Madonna was decidedly devastated after her attempts to adopt a girl from Malawi were thwarted by the government, but now she will get a second chance. According to her lawyer, an appeals court will hear her request to adopt 4-year old Mercy James on May 4.

Lawyer Alan Chinula said:

"I cannot disclose our grounds of appeal, but I can confirm the court will hear our appeal."

Madonna herself is not expected to appear at the hearing.

Earlier this month a Malawi judge rejected her adoption efforts, suggesting that Malawian children were better of living in their homeland. He also said that celebrity adoptions send the wrong message, and could spark a rush of child-trafficking.

After Madonna adopted one-year-old David Banda in 2006, the Malawi government came under fire, and critics accused them of giving her special treatment and skirting laws that ban non-resident adoptions.

Since her adoption of David, Madonna has divorced and is not a single mom. That status alone would normally rule her out as an adoptive parent.

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