LOS ANGELES (AP) - A judge has appointed Tito Jackson's son as a temporary guardian of Michael Jackson's children.
The judge temporarily suspended Katherine Jackson as the children's guardian because she is in Arizona and hadn't spoken with them in several days.
TJ Jackson appeared in court Wednesday and sought the temporary appointment, but his attorney said he wasn't trying to replace Katherine Jackson permanently.
TJ Jackson said he spoke with Katherine Jackson on Tuesday, but she sounded strange. He said she was using words he's never heard her use and her voice at times sounded slurred.
The appointment comes after days of turmoil among the Jackson family, with a relative reporting Katherine Jackson missing before she was located safely with other family members in Arizona.
Katherine Jackson is the court-appointed guardian of her son Michael's three children, Prince, Paris and Blanket. The children have remained at the home they share with their grandmother in Calabasas.
The house was the scene of a family disturbance Monday that sheriff's deputies continue to investigate.
Katherine Jackson's attorney Perry Sanders Jr. said she spoke with her son's children Tuesday, after Sanders met with Janet and Jermaine Jackson in Tucson, Arizona.
Michael Jackson's daughter, Paris, has repeatedly posted to Twitter that she hasn't spoken with her grandmother since July 15.
Jermaine Jackson has said his mother was following doctor's orders and resting with family in Arizona.
(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
(AP Photo/FILE)
