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The "Material Girl" singer and "Sherlock Holmes" director,
whose litigation over 15-year old Rocco has been taking place in
New York and London, divorced in 2008 and agreed their son would
live with the songstress.
But since late last year Rocco has been in London living with
Ritchie and in December ignored a New York court order to return
to the United States to stay with his mother.
Madonna, 57, issued legal proceedings in the British capital
last December but later sought to withdraw them.
At Monday's hearing -- which neither Madonna nor Ritchie
attended -- judge Justice Alistair MacDonald granted the singer
permission to end the proceedings in Britain and appealed to
both sides to settle the matter, according to a transcript of
his judgment.
"... At the root of these proceedings ... is a temporary
breakdown in trust. For all the media coverage, comment and
analysis, this is a case born out of circumstances that arise
for countless separated parents the world over," he said.
"I renew, one final time, my plea for the parents to seek, and
to find an amicable resolution to the dispute between them ...
It would be a very great tragedy for Rocco if any more of the
precious and fast-receding days of his childhood were to be
taken up by this dispute."
His appeal echoes that of Manhattan Supreme Court Justice
Deborah Kaplan, who earlier this month also urged both sides to
work together to resolve the dispute. A hearing in New York was
set for June 1.
Madonna wrapped up her "Rebel Heart" world tour at the weekend
with shows in Sydney. Rocco had traveled with her for the tour's
initial stages, working backstage. He also toured with the
singer in 2012.
(Reporting By Helena Williams and Marie-Louise Gumuchian;
Editing by Richard Balmforth)
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