Michael Jackson's mother, Katherine, is in charge of his children -- Prince, Paris and Blanket -- once more. But she'll be sharing the responsibilities.
Los Angeles Superior Court judge Mitchell Beckloff on Thursday reinstated the 82-year-old as a co-guardian for the minor children, according to the Associated Press. The judge gave temporary guardianship to 34-year-old TJ Jackson, the children's cousin, on July 25 while the Jackson family matriarch was unreachable. She will be sharing guardianship of the children with him.
In a sworn statement, Katherine Jackson said that she supported having TJ act as co-guardian. "I am, and have been, very close with my grandson TJ and have relied on him to help me raise Prince, Paris and Blanket since the death of their father," she said. "While I was away, I assumed that the children) would be secure and safe in the hands of the person who had essentially been acting as an informal co-guardian on many matters with me since my appointment as guardian."
The singer's mother was temporary stripped of her guardianship after a prolonged absence in late July. Her son Randy said in an interview with MSNBC that her health had been poor and that she had "isolate(d) herself from the outside world" and was resting as per doctor's orders. While she was away, 14-year-old Paris tweeted several times, saying she hadn't been able to reach her grandmother.
Katherine Jackson also said in her statement to the court that she didn't know the kids were trying to get in contact with her and that she would have returned home sooner if she had known. She said that while in Arizona, the phone in her room wasn't working and that an iPad was taken from her.
The judge reinstated her after a probate court investigator gave her a glowing review after speaking to the children.
"I think the kids are in terrific hands," Beckloff said in Thursday's hearing. "It appears from the report that Katherine Jackson has done a wonderful job and cares about the children very much."
Beckless will finalize the co-guardianship later in the month.
The Associated Press and CNS contributed to this report.
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