It was announced this morning that, despite having the support of a Malawi child welfare minister, the judge concluded that Madonna should not be allowed to take Mercy out of the country. The judge rejected the request because of a "requirement that prospective parents live in the southern African nation for at least 18 months."
The 50-year-old pop superstar, who was not in court on Friday, can appeal the ruling to Malawi's Supreme Court.
The residency rule was waived in 2006, when Madonna was allowed to take her adopted son, David, to London before his adoption was finalised in 2008. It was not clear why Judge Esme Chombo ruled differently today. Another judge had handled Madonna's previous adoption case and it's possible that Madonna's recent divorce and newly single mother status could have affected the process.
