A Manhattan judge agreed to let Madonna’s 15-year-old son stay in school in London until his parents finish their international fight over his custody.
“I’m still optimistic there will be a resolution since the parents are communicating directly with each other,” Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Deborah Kaplan said.
But the justice refused to rescind an order she issued in December ordering Rocco’s father, director Guy Ritchie, to send his son back to New York.
Both Madonna and Ritchie listened to the proceeding via a telephone hookup, with Ritchie in London and Madonna in New Zealand, where she’s currently on tour. Neither spoke except to exchange pleasantries with the judge.
The lawyers for the parents said they thought they had a deal worked out to end the bitter custody battle on Tuesday — but it fell apart.
Meanwhile, Ellen Sigal, an attorney for Rocco, said her client is feeling a lot of pressure because of the order and the ongoing dispute between his parents.
“My client has stressed the stressfulness of the court order,” she told the judge. “The uncertainty weighs on him. If you could assure him that you won’t enforce the order, that would help him to feel more comfortable.”
The custody fight broke out in December when Rocco Ritchie refused to return to his material mom in Manhattan after he ditched her Rebel Heart Tour to live with his dad in London.
Madonna immediately rushed to court where a judge ordered Rocco to return to New York to hash things out here.
Madonna’s attorney, Eleanor Alter, said Wednesday that Ritchie’s refusal to return Rocco is “contempt” of the court order.
“I don’t think it should be withdrawn,” she said, and the director should not “get away with thumbing his nose at it.”
Alter argued that Ritchie has “taught his son that obeying court orders and signed agreements are not necessary.”
However, Alter said Madonna has agreed to let Rocco continue attending school in London, where he has made a good adjustment.
Ritchie’s lawyer, Peter Bronstein, said the court order “casts a pall over the household” and should be vacated.
“Rocco is of an age where he cannot be physically compelled to come back to New York. The possibility this court would … turn on a dime is not the way this child should have to live,” he said.
“I’ve never turned on a dime in my life,” Kaplan replied.
She said if the parents couldn’t resolve their differences in coming months, they’d have to come back to court June 1.
Bronstein said both sides are due back in court in London on Thursday, where Ritchie is fighting to have the English court assert jurisdiction.
Kaplan reminded the lawyers the divorce agreement was filed in New York in 2009, and under its terms, New York courts have jurisdiction over any custodial dispute.
Madonna and Guy Ritchie divorced in 2008 after eight years of marriage.
In addition to Rocco, the star couple has an adopted son, David Banda, 10. Madonna has two other children, Lourdes Leon, 19; and Mercy James, 9.
