On Tuesday, a California judge denied Britney Spears’ bid to remove her father as the conservator of her estate — which he has managed for the past 12 years.

While Los Angeles County Superior Court judge Brenda Penny upheld James “Jamie” Spears’ role as conservator for the time being, Penny said she would consider future petitions for his suspension or removal from Britney Spears’ estate. Meanwhile, the judge approved the singer’s request to have the Bessemer Trust, a financial fiduciary, appointed as a co-conservator, according to The Los Angeles Times.

James Spears has managed his 38-year-old daughter’s estate since 2008 — when the singer dominated headlines for a series of public meltdowns.

In January 2019, Britney Spears abruptly ended her residency in Las Vegas before it began. She then checked into a mental health facility, according to The Los Angeles Times.

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Lawyer Samuel Ingham III blamed Britney Spears’ indefinite hiatus on Jamie Spears’ ongoing control of her estate. Ingham said the singer has not talked to her father in a very long time.

“My client has informed me that she is afraid of her father,” Ingham said in court, according to the Associated Press.

“She will not perform again if her father is in charge of her career.”

Conversely, James Spears’ attorney described her client as an exemplary conservator, noting that the singer went from having a negative net worth to being worth more than $60 million.

The outlet reported that James Spears not only has control over Britney Spears’ finances but her as an entity — putting him in control of the 38-year-old’s life choices.

Britney Spears has admitted she needed a conservator in 2008, and credited the arrangement with saving her career. However, the singer started publicly challenging the conservatorship in August.

Lasy year, James Spears stepped down as conservator due to health concerns. Britney Spears asked for the temporary replacement, Jodi Montgomery, to become the permanent conservator.

The Los Angeles Times reported that another hearing is scheduled for December 16.

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[Featured image: James Spears, Britney Spears/Associated Press]