Madonna Lets Son Stay In London — For Now

Madonna and Guy Ritchie’s son Rocco will stay in school in London while his parents comply with a New York court order to work out their own custody agreement by this summer, according to RadarOnline. "I'm still optimistic there will be a resolution since the parents are communicating directly with each other," said Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Deborah Kaplan during today’s hearing.

Madonna and Guy listened in by phone — she was on tour in New Zealand, and he was at home in London. Justice Kaplan refused to rescind her December order that Rocco's father, director Guy Ritchie, to send his son back to New York. “I’m still hopeful that we can come to some sort of agreement that will shield [Rocco],” said one of Ritchie’s lawyers. “Rocco is of an age where he can’t be forced on a plane to come back.”

But Madonna’s lawyers fought back, claiming Ritchie is setting a bad example by the way he has handled the custody situation. “The proper procedure was to come to New York and get the circumstances changed,” Madonna’s legal team said. “He taught his son that court proceedings are not important.”

One of Madonna's attorneys, Eleanor Alter, called Guy's refusal to return Rocco "contempt" of the court order, and insisted the film director should not "get away with thumbing his nose at it." According to Radar, Alter blasted Ritchie for having "taught his son that obeying court orders and signed agreements are not necessary." However, Alter said Madonna has decided to let Rocco continue attending school in London.

Both sides are due back in court in London tomorrow, where Guy is trying to get an English court to take over jurisdiction. However, Justice Kaplan pointed out that the divorce agreement was filed in New York in 2009, and under its terms, New York courts have jurisdiction over any custodial dispute. The estranged parents must reach a deal or return to Justice Kaplan’s New York City courtroom on June 1.