Malawi court allows Madonna to adopt second child

Madonna was allowed to adopt a second child from Malawi Friday after the country’s Supreme Court overturned a lower court ruling in a case that has been criticized by local rights groups.

Chief Justice Lovemore Munlo said Madonna had shown an interest in helping Malawi orphans and that 4-year-old Mercy James would have a better life with the star.
He said a lower court had erred in turning down the adoption request because Madonna was not resident in Malawi.

“We find the judge in the lower court to have dwelled so much on media reports on the issue of residence and to us this was not evidence enough to deny Madonna a chance to adopt Mercy James. We therefore grant Madonna the adoption order,” Munlo said.

“Madonna has shown that she is bold, and compassionate enough to come forward to adopt Chifundo James.”

The Supreme court ruling cannot be challenged.

Madonna’s lawyer said the singer welcomed the ruling. “I’ve just talked to Madonna and she’s very excited about this news,” lawyer Alan Chinula told Reuters.

From Reuters