Britney Spears' Father Named Permanent Conservator

Britney Spears may be making a strong comeback — most recently evident with her skin-baring video for "Womanizer" — but the pop star isn't exposing herself to the risks of full independence just yet.

A Los Angeles court ruled Tuesday that her father, Jamie, has been named permanent co-conservator of her estate with attorney Andrew Wallet. The two were tasked with taking charge of Spears' affairs when she was first hospitalized last winter.

"The court finds the proposed permanent conservatorship is necessary and appropriate," Los Angeles Superior Court Commissioner Reva Goetz, who has been presiding over the case in recent months, said at the hearing.

Notably, Spears was in favor of the renewal of the conservatorship, which might indicate a growing desire to take care of herself since her darker days. "I've met several times with [Britney] and she requested that I not object to the permanent conservatorship," a court-appointed lawyer said during Tuesday's proceedings, People reports.

The news has spurred family experts to sound off across the media, with some claiming that the ruling isn't "permanent," per se, but an extension of sorts. Others, meanwhile, contend that the decision will only prolong Britney's custody troubles. How do you interpret the ruling? (Non-family law experts welcome to reply.)