Guardian Issue Not Seen as Serious

Although Louis Brown was stripped of guardianship powers over O.J. Simpson’s two children earlier this year, experts said Monday that does not prohibit the Browns from exercising custody of the children.

The change might mean that Louis’ wife, Juditha Brown, who retains guardianship status, must sign school documents or handle medical records, but she could still authorize Louis to perform some tasks, say family law attorneys and sources in the children’s custody case.

“I can’t see how it would make an impact or difference in these children’s lives,” said Santa Ana family law attorney Robert Des Jardins.

Sources said that while Juditha Brown keeps primary custody of Simpson’s youngest children--Sydney, 11, and Justin, 8--Simpson’s sister, Shirley Baker, also has been given some authority.

But Los Angeles family law attorney Sorrell Trope said the court order removing Louis Brown from guardianship is odd considering that the children continue to live with the Browns in Dana Point.

“Therein lies the absurdity,” said Trope. “His [Louis’] spouse, with whom he lives, is still the guardian.”

The children have lived with the Browns, their maternal grandparents, since 1994, when O.J. Simpson was charged with killing their mother, Nicole Brown Simpson. He was found not guilty during a sensational criminal trial and is now undergoing a civil trial.

Sources said that Louis Brown was removed as a guardian by Commissioner Thomas H. Schulte to prevent any potential conflict of interest given Brown’s other role as executor of the Nicole Brown estate.

The change, made this summer, was not meant to punish Brown for anything he had done, sources said.

Irvine family law attorney Marc S. Tovstein said a judge might remove someone in Brown’s position because as an estate executor, he must accommodate a number of people with an interest in the estate, including the children.

“A child may have a financial claim in the estate that others may have,” said Tovstein.

In a Los Angeles civil court case, the Nicole Brown Simpson estate is suing Simpson, claiming he was responsible for the death of his ex-wife.

Simpson was acquitted of criminal charges in October 1995 for the murders of Nicole Brown, his ex-wife, and her friend, Ronald Lyle Goldman.

The football superstar has since asked to retain custody of the children. The Browns have refused, sparking the custody hearings in Orange family court.

The custody proceedings are closed, and a gag order prevents participants from discussing the case.