Browns to Represent Selves in Custody Case

In a surprise move, the grandparents of O.J. Simpson’s children have chosen to represent themselves in court as they fight for child custody, sources said Thursday.

Louis and Juditha Brown, the parents of Simpson’s slain ex-wife, have had custody of the two elementary school children since 1994 and are seeking permanent custody.

Attorney Eleanor A. Stegmeier confirmed that she and co-counsel Saul Gelbart no longer represent the Browns but declined to comment further, citing a gag order.

“They are out of the case,” said one source, “and the Browns are their own attorneys, for now.”

Gelbart also declined comment, citing family court Commissioner Thomas H. Schulte’s gag order.

Sources said that the Browns had signed court papers indicating that Gelbart and Stegmeier no longer represent them, and that the grandparents now represent themselves.

However, the Browns could, at any time, bring in new attorneys, and would be expected to do so, attorneys said.

Attorney Bernard A. Leckie, who represents Simpson in the custody proceedings, said he was surprised by the shake-up, and added, “I don’t know what the reasoning is.”

Others, however, said the reason was the cost of the legal representation and that the two attorneys may return to the case later.

The children, Sydney, 10, and Justin, 8, went to live with their grandparents after Simpson was arrested on suspicion of killing his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend, Ronald Lyle Goldman.

After Simpson was acquitted of the charges in October 1995, he sought to keep his children pending a trial to determine permanent custody. The Browns declined, sparking the legal proceedings at the Betty Lou Lamoreaux Justice Center in Orange.

Those proceedings were halted on Sept. 18, which allowed the children to stay with the Browns. But attorneys for the two sides have continued to make court appearances in preparation for the November trial.