Judge Removes Mom From Control of Michael Jackson's Estate

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Judge Removes Mom From Control of Michael Jackson's Estate

Mon., Jul. 6, 2009 9:46 AM PDT by Josh Grossberg

Kevin Mazur/AEG via Getty Images

The keys to Michael Jackson's kingdom have just been ripped from his mother's hands.

Over the objections of Katherine Jackson, a Los Angeles probate judge today ruled that Michael Jackson's 2002 will is indeed valid and that, per the King of Pop's wishes, attorney John Branca and veteran music executive John McClain, executors of his estate.

Lawyers for Jackson's mother, Katherine Jackson, wanted Judge Mitchell Beckloff to delay the decision. One of her lawyers, John Schreiber, argued "there is concern over handing over the keys to the kingdom so quickly."

Her attorneys also suggested that because McClain suffered from a disability, he was unfit to make decisions on Michael's estate, which is estimated to be worth more than $500 million.

But Beckloff refused, telling Schreiber "someone needs to be at the helm of the ship."