LILONGWE, Malawi — A judge has rejected request to adopt a second child from Malawi, the star’s lawyer said Friday.

The lawyer, Alan Chinula, refused to discuss the ruling further, saying only that he had passed it on to Madonna, who was in Malawi but did not attend Friday’s court hearing. Madonna can appeal to the Supreme Court.

Earlier, a judge who did not make the ruling but saw it and another lawyer present when the ruling was made said Madonna was rejected because of residency rules. Both spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the case.

Malawi adoption regulations require that prospective parents live in the southern African nation for at least 18 months.

The residency rule was waived in 2006, when Madonna was allowed to take her adopted son, David, to London before his adoption was finalized in 2008. It was not clear why Judge Esme Chombo ruled differently Friday. Another judge had handled Madonna’s previous adoption case.