Malawi judge to rule on Madonna case November 20

A Malawi judge will rule next week on whether the High Court should hear a legal challenge to pop queen Madonna's interim adoption of a one-year-old boy from the southern African country, a lawyer on the case said.

Malawi Judge Andrew Nyirenda said he wanted until November 20 to consider the case and whether an additional plaintiff could join the suit, said Justin Dzonzi, the lawyer representing the alliance of 67 activist groups which began the lawsuit.

"All the parties have been heard and the court has reserved its ruling because the Malawi Human Rights Commission also applied to be part of the case and the judge wants more time before he can make an order," Dzonzi said.

Dzonzi represents the Malawi Human Rights Consultative Committee (MHRCC), which initiated the lawsuit against Madonna's interim adoption of David Banda. The Malawi High Rights Commission is a government-constituted independent watchdog.

Madonna began proceedings to adopt Banda during a visit to the southern African country in October, which the singer's publicists billed as a mission to help Malawi orphans.

Shortly after her visit, David Banda was taken from the Malawi orphanage where he lived and flown to the American singer's London home under the terms of what was described as an "interim adoption" granted to the pop star.

The activist groups have accused Madonna of using her celebrity to cut corners on Malawi's adoption laws as well as the appointment of a Malawi government agent to assess Madonna's suitability as a potential parent.

"The guardian...is the same person that government used to convince Yohane Banda to release his son to Madonna and he is now expected to give an objective assessment of Madonna's suitability to raise the child," Dzonzi said.

David Banda's father Yohane has protested the case against the adoption, but has also said he did not fully understand the 48-year-old "Material Girl" would keep his son indefinitely when he agreed to let the singer adopt his son.

The baby will stay with Madonna for 18 months, during which time his progress will be monitored by Malawi officials before final approval can be given for him to remain with her family.

Madonna funds orphanages through her Raising Malawi charity and is setting up an orphanage outside the capital Lilongwe.