Britney's Trial Victory a 'Turnaround' for Singer

The following italicized article is from www.people.com:

Britney Spears's victory in her misdemeanor driving-without-a-license trial this week "closes a chapter on her past troubles," her lawyer Michael Flanagan tells PEOPLE.

"It marks a turnaround for her. This case was a thorn in her side for more than a year, a reminder of the bad old days," he said. "She's thrilled the court system, for once, worked in her favor."

The trial – which heard only one day of witness testimony – failed to convince a jury that Spears broke the law by driving without a California license, stemming from a 2007 fender-bender. It ended Tuesday in a hung jury, 10-2 in favor of her innocence, and a dismissal of the case.

Said jury foreman Gary Moy, 45, "There were lots of questions about lack of evidence, whether Spears had a Louisiana license or not, what the definition of residency was. We felt we were never given all the facts in the case."

Spears's father, Jamie, provided key testimony that his daughter had a Louisiana license on the day in question, and that she considers that state her permanent home.

Father's Guidance

Following her two forced hospitalizations last January, the singer remains under legal control of her father until a Dec. 31 hearing.

"Her father is doing a sensational job for her," Flanagan says. "And with his guidance, she's really gotten her life together."

Her exoneration tops a growing list of personal victories: Spears has gained significant visitation with her sons after losing all custody earlier this year, won three VMA awards in September, and has a new album, Circus, due out on Dec. 22 (her 27th birthday).

Source: People

Spears Was 'Too Fragile' For Court

The following italicized article is from www.contactmusic.com:

BRITNEY SPEARS was too "fragile" to appear in front of jurors deciding her fate in her recent driving license trial, according to her defence lawyer.

The Toxic star was charged with failure to produce a valid California license following a car crash in the state last year (07), but the case was declared a mistrial on Tuesday (21Oct08) after a jury failed to reach a unanimous decision.

The judge was forced to dismiss any criminal charges against the singer as jurors deadlocked - with two members voting guilty, and 10 not guilty.But despite the relative victory, Spears' lawyer Michael Flanagan has revealed how the star pleaded with him to excuse her from making a court appearance - and insists she wasn't "strong" enough to cope with the pressure.

Flanagan recalls how Spears told him: "I can't face all those people. I don't want to deal with all the people."

He adds, "She is not very strong. She is still very fragile. I had to explain things to her."

The comments come as the star embarks on a campaign to revive her career and put her January (08) public meltdown behind her.

Spears' new album, Circus, is due for release in December (08) and a world tour scheduled for March (09).

Source: Contact Music

Britney Spears Gets Mistrial, Goes Dancing

The following italicized article is from www.celebrity-gossip.net:

Sporting a “The One I Love” t-shirt with jeans, Britney Spears was spotted making her way over to a dance studio in Hollywood on Tuesday (October 21).

The sighting comes just after a mistrial was declared in the “Gimme More” singer’s misdemeanor case for driving without a California license, as the jury was deadlocked 10-2 in favor of the singer’s innocence, reports tell.

“The jury is hopelessly deadlocked, and I declare this a mistrial,” Judge James A. Steele told the courtroom attendees.

Gloating in his successful representation, Brit’s lawyer, Michael Flanagan, told press, “Today’s outcome shows my client did nothing wrong. I consider this a victory. Britney was vindicated in that she took on a system that attempted to make an example of her celebrity.”

Source: Celebrity Gossip

Judge Declares Mistrial In Britney Spears Driver’s License Case

The following italicized article is from www.accesshollywood.com:

A Los Angeles court judge declared a mistrial in the Britney Spears driver’s license case Tuesday after jurors were unable to come to a unanimous decision, following nearly two days of deliberations.

“This is a victory for Ms. Spears,” the pop star’s lawyer, Michael Flanagan, told Access Hollywood shortly after the mistrial was called.

As previously reported on AccessHollywood.com, Spears’ trial on the charge of driving without a valid license, began last Wednesday at a San Fernando Valley, California courthouse. Jurors began their deliberations after receiving the case on Friday afternoon.

The case stems from an incident in August 2007, when Spears hit a parked car, while parking her Mercedes-Benz. She left — without leaving a note.

The owner of the other vehicle later filed a police report and Spears was charged a month later with misdemeanor hit-and-run and driving without a valid California license. The hit-and-run charges were dismissed in October 2007 after Spears paid an undisclosed sum to the owner.

Testimony lasted for about a day in Spears’ trial, though the pop star was not required to and did not appear at the courthouse during the case.

Twelve jurors began deliberating on Friday afternoon, but were sent home for the weekend by the judge after failing to reach a verdict in just over two hours. They deliberated again on Monday, and reportedly were deadlocked 10-2. It was not immediately clear which way the jurors voted.

Prosecutors had argued Spears was required to obtain a valid California driver’s license. Her attorney, however, argued that the pop star had a license at the time of the incident, from where her primary residence was – Louisiana. She has since obtained a California license.

Spears’ attorney, Michael Flanagan, had previously rejected a plea deal, which would have resulted in a $150 fine and 12 months probation for the singer.

Source: Access Hollywood

Mistrial Declared in Britney Spears Case

The following italicized article is from www.people.com:

A mistrial was declared Tuesday in Britney Spears's misdemeanor trial for driving without a license. The jury was deadlocked 10-2 in favor of the singer's innocence, the foreman said in open court.

"The jury is hopelessly deadlocked, and I declare this a mistrial," stated Judge James A. Steele.

The jury had deliberated for three days in the trial, which involved only one day of witness testimony.

Spears, 26, had been accused of driving without a California license, stemming from an August 2007 fender-bender.

The singer's father, Jamie Spears, testified his daughter had a Louisiana license on the day in question, and that she considers Louisiana her permanent residence and plans to return.

"Today's outcome shows my client did nothing wrong. I consider this a victory," said Britney's attorney, Michael Flanagan. "Britney was vindicated in that she took on a system that attempted to make an example of her celebrity."

Prosecutor Michael Amerian had no comment for the time being, pending a 1:30 p.m. hearing Tuesday, at which Judge Steele could possibly dismiss the case. If not, the prosecutor could announce his intent to retry Spears – an unlikely move, given the jury's votes.

Celebrity Proved an Asset

Said jury foreman Gary Moy, 45, a communications analyst (and one of two jurors who voted guilty): "We felt deadlocked from the beginning, there were lots of questions about lack of evidence, whether Spears had a Louisiana license or not, what the definition of residency was. We felt we were never given all the facts in the case."

He added, "Some jurors felt their time was wasted."

Moy also noted that he believed Spears's celebrity worked in her favor, saying that people have a "natural propensity to identify with celebrities, and I feel some of the jurors inserted their personal feelings" into their decision-making.

Source: People

Jurors In Britney Spears Driver’s License Case Ordered To Return For Deliberations Tuesday

The following italicized article is from www.accesshollywood.com:

Jurors deciding Britney Spears’ fate in her trial on a charge of driving without a valid license were ordered to return for further deliberations on Tuesday after being unable to reach a verdict Monday evening.

As previously reported on AccessHollywood.com, Spears’ trial on the charge began last Wednesday at a San Fernando Valley, California courthouse. Jurors began their deliberations after receiving the case on Friday afternoon.

The case stems from an incident in August 2007, when Spears hit a parked car, while parking her Mercedes-Benz. She left — without leaving a note.

The owner of the other vehicle later filed a police report and Spears was charged a month later with misdemeanor hit-and-run and driving without a valid California license. The hit-and-run charges were dismissed in October 2007 after Spears paid an undisclosed sum to the owner.

Testimony lasted for about a day in Spears’ trial, though the pop star was not required to and did not appear at the courthouse during the case.

Twelve jurors began deliberating on Friday afternoon, but were sent home for the weekend by the judge after failing to reach a verdict in just over two hours.

They continued deliberations again on Monday morning, but sent questions about the case to the judge, including whether Spears was being charged with not having a California license or any license at all.

Prosecutors had argued Spears was required to obtain a valid California driver’s license. Her attorney, however, argued that the pop star had a license at the time of the incident, from where her primary residence was – Louisiana. She has since obtained a California license.

Spears’ attorney, Michael Flanagan, had previously rejected a plea deal, which would have resulted in a $150 fine and 12 months probation for the singer.

Source: Access Hollywood

Britney Jury Deadlocked; Judge Says Keep Deliberating

The following italicized article is from www.accesshollywood.com:

Jurors in Britney Spears’ driving case say they can’t reach an unanimous verdict. A judge ordered the panel to resume deliberations.

The jury deliberated less than two hours Monday at a San Fernando Valley courthouse. They posed two questions, including one that sought to clarify what Spears was charged with.

Shortly after being read more instructions, jurors indicated they were deadlocked.

The judge ordered the panel to give him an update before lunchtime.

The eight women and four men are sifting through roughly a day’s worth of testimony and arguments in the case, which was filed last year after the pop star hit a parked car and left the scene.

Spears hasn’t appeared in court and didn’t testify during the trial.

The jury deliberated for about two hours Friday.

Source: Access Hollywood

Britney's Jury: DEADLOCKED!

The following italicized article is from www.x17online.com:

This is getting complicated, y'all!

Our X17 reporter inside the courtroom at Britney's trial just informed us that the jury has returned and given a hand-written note to the judge. The judge then addressed the jury, saying:

"I understand that you cannot come to a unanimous decision."

WHOA! So now what?

The judge then asked the jury to continue to deliberate, suggesting they "have different people lead the conversation" and act out a "reversal of role-play" in order to decide something.

At 11:55 a.m., before a lunch break, the jury will return with an update...

Stay tuned!

UPDATE! It's noon and the court has gone out to lunch.

Meanwhile, our girl Brit just picked up her kids at school and they're on their way home right now... We'll bring you more deets as soon as we get 'em!

Think they'll reach a decision by then?

Source: X17

Britney's Back On The Rails

The following italicized article is from www.dailymail.co.uk:

Britney Spears looked every inch the doting mother as she collect her sons Sean and Jayden for a weekend visit.

The 26-year-old singer, who has managed to turn her life around after a very public breakdown, appeared happy and healthy in a pink top and jeans as she balanced her youngest boy on her hip.

She was accompanied by the man who has been credited with nursing her back to full health - her father Jamie Spears.

The scenes are a sharp contrast to earlier this year, when a wild-eyed Britney lost custody of Sean Preston, 3, and two-year-old Jayden James to her ex-husband Kevin Federline.

But since that time the singer's life has turned around for the better.

This week saw a return to form as her new song Womanizer topped the digital download chart in the US.

It debuted with downloads of 285,800 — the best first week for a female artist on that chart since it began in 2003.

The previous record holder was Mariah Carey's Touch My Body which entered the digital songs chart with just 200 fewer units back in April.

Womanizer also hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, which aggregates digital sales with airplay.

Yesterday her father Jamie told told jurors that Britney was planning to move back to Louisiana - her home town.

The singer is currently on trial for allegedly driving without a valid license.

Jamie Spears, 56, claimed that - although she lived there at the moment- California was not his daughter's permanent residence and she was only in the state for the sake of her sons.

'Her home is Louisiana', he told the court in his southern drawl.

Asked when she would be returning to the Deep South, he said: 'There's plans right now.'

'We're here with her kids. We have visitation rights. We have to stay to augment those rights.'

He told the jurors they planned to move back to Louisiana 'once we can travel with the kids and spend time there'

She faces up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine if she is convicted of driving without a valid license in August last year.

Source: Daily Mail

Britney Spears Jury Leaves For Weekend Without Verdict

The following italicized article is from www.accesshollywood.com:

The jury in Britney Spears’ misdemeanor driving-without-a-valid-license trial has left for the weekend without reaching a verdict.

Jurors left late Friday afternoon after deliberating for a little more than two hours.

The eight women and four men received the case after prosecutors and defense attorneys made their final arguments.

Spears hit a parked car last year while driving in California on her Louisiana license. Her attorney says she didn’t meet the state’s residency requirements and was within the law.

But prosecutors say the 26-year-old needed a license because she was married, had two children and filed for divorce in Los Angeles — and was ostensibly a California resident.

Spears did not attend any of the two-day trial.

Source: Access Hollywood

Britney's Driving Case Motors to Jury

The following italicized article is from www.eonline.com:

Britney Spears' jury is doing its best to make up for lost time.

While it took 14 months—a very long 14 months—for the singer's trial on misdemeanor driving without a license to reach a courtroom, it took barely two days of testimony before jurors entered deliberations.

The eight-woman, four-man panel is currently pondering the pop star's fate.

At stake is whether the 26-year-old will be slapped with a criminal charge as a result of her August 2007 ding-and-run, at which time she was in possession of a Louisiana, though not California, driver's license.

Spears, who has been MIA throughout the proceedings, might have to put in face time in the court if she's convicted.

"Her lawyer can stand in for the sentencing hearing, but the judge might want it all done on the record," Alec Rose, a Santa Monica criminal defense attorney, tells E! News.

The maximum sentence is six months in jail and a $1,000 fine—not to mention the knowledge that a much less costly and solution, which included zero time behind bars, without the embarrassment of a public trial could have been, had Spears accepted prosecutors' plea deal earlier this month.

Rose, who's not involved in the case, doesn't expect much of a penalty even if the singer is found guilty.

"No one gets sentenced jail time" in these kind of cases, says Rose. "She would probably only
have to pay a fine of few hundred dollars and be on one to three years of summary probation."

Three witnesses, including Spears' father Jamie, testified before Friday morning's closing statements.

For his part, Jamie did his best to justify her out-of-state license and play down the fact that his daughter had tied the knot and twice given birth in the Golden State, saying her real home was and will again be Louisiana.

Source: E! Online

Britney Court Update: Verdict Most Likely Delayed Until Monday

The following italicized article is from www.x17online.com:

The jury in Britney's driving without a license trial began their deliberations just about twenty minutes ago (at 2pm PT), and at least one person believes we won't get a quick verdict: her attorney.

In fact, J. Michael Flanagan has left the proceedings in the hands of an associate...to go golfing.

The session will break at 4:15pm regardless of whether or not they reach a verdict, so it seems that we may have to wait until Monday.

But we're staying for the long haul, so if we get any new updates, we'll be sure to pass them on...

Oh, the dramz!

Source: X17

Jury Begins Deliberations in Britney Spears Traffic Trial

The following italicized article is from www.people.com:

After hearing closing arguments, a jury began deliberations Friday in Britney Spears's driving-without-a-license trial.

In a half-hour closing argument, prosecutor Michael Amerian told jurors that Spears, 26, should be convicted of the misdemeanor charge because she did not have a California driver's license at the time of a August 2007 fender bender.

"Every significant occurrence of Britney Spears's life has occurred in Los Angeles," he said, referring to her marriage, the birth of her two sons, and divorce. "She is a California resident."

He added that the fact that the singer applied for (but did not receive) a California license four months prior to the accident "shows her intent to stay here."

"If you follow the law and use common sense, you'll find the defendant is guilty," Amerian told the panel.

Spears's defense called her father to testify that Britney considers Louisiana home. The pop star says she had a Louisiana license at the time of the accident (though she since has gotten a California one).

Her lawyer, Michael Flanagan, told jurors that Spears "doesn't want to be here (in California). She's a Louisiana girl. She's only here because of her custody case. She keeps thinking, maybe next month I can go home."

He pointed out that a dozen paparazzi vehicles follow the singer's every move daily. "You got a glimpse of what it's like for her to be here. No doubt that's why she's been driven crazy, why there's a conservatorship, why she was hospitalized," he said. "Do you blame the girl for wanting to go home (to Louisiana)?"

But prosecutor Amerian said there was no hard evidence presented that Spears even had a Louisiana license on the day in question, other than Jamie's testimony.

If convicted, Spears faces up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine.

Source: People

Britney Returning to Kentwood?

The following italicized article is from www.ok-magazine.com:

For anyone who thought they had heard the last bit of legal double-talk from lawyers for Britney Spears — think again. The pop star is currently on trial for the misdemeanor charge of driving without a California license, and her legal eagle is pulling out all the stops to make sure she skates away from the charges.

According to attorney J. Michael Flanagan, while Brit may have been calling California home for several years (and by almost all legal accounts, she should have finally gotten a California license years ago), home is where the heart is, and the singer's heart is apparently still in Kentwood, La.

"She was residing in California — I'm not trying to get tricky with the terminology — but 'resident' has a different definition," Flanagan attempted to explain to the jurors in the case.

The charges stem from an August 2007 incident in which Britney hit a parked car while pulling into an L.A. parking lot.

While Brit was not required to be on hand for the trial, her father — and conservator — Jamie Spears testified under oath the 26-year-old had been planning to move home to Louisiana at the time and was only waiting to resolve the custody battle with ex-husband Kevin Federline.

Spears could face a maximum six months in jail if convicted but is more likely to get a fine and probation.

Source: OK Magazine

Both Sides Rest In Spears Driving Case

Britney Spears did not appear at her driver's license trial Thursday. Instead, her father did the talking.

Spears' defense consisted solely of the testimony of Jamie Spears, who told jurors his daughter intends to return to Louisiana once she has custody of her children. The singer's attorney, J. Michael Flanagan, said in his opening statement that she was exempt from having a California driver's license because she didn't meet residency requirements.

On cross-examination, however, Jamie Spears acknowledged that his daughter got married, had two children and divorced in California.

Both sides rested their cases Thursday afternoon and jurors will return for deliberations Friday morning.

Throughout the day Thursday, the possibility of the 26-year-old testifying during the trial remained. That prospect was quashed Thursday afternoon when Flanagan asked Jamie Spears whether he would allow his daughter to take the stand.

"No," he replied.

The singer's trial on a misdemeanor count of driving without a valid license began with jury selection Wednesday. The case is the last remnant of an August 2007 incident in which Spears was photographed hitting a parked car and leaving the scene.

While Spears settled a hit-and-run charge, Flanagan rejected a plea deal that prosecutors offered Spears on the driving-without-a license charge because he said Spears did not want a criminal record.

Prosecutors relied on testimony from Jamie Spears and two witnesses, a Department of Motor Vehicles investigator and a paparazzo assigned to Britney Spears around-the-clock, to build their case that the singer's home is in Los Angeles. The paparazzo, Sondro Rodregues, told jurors Britney Spears spends roughly 80 percent of her time in the area.

Flanagan tried to establish that Los Angeles is a temporary home for Britney Spears and that she will likely leave once she has custody of her young sons. Ex-husband Kevin Federline currently has full custody of the couple's children, and Spears remains under the conservatorship of her father, who controls the singer's personal and financial affairs.

Flanagan gave jurors three examples of her ties to Louisiana: she is registered to vote there; she takes a homestead exemption on her property taxes there and until late last year, she had a Louisiana driver's license.

Los Angeles Deputy City Attorney Michael Amerian chipped away at those ties, however, including revealing that Spears' voting registration in Louisiana had lapsed due to inactivity. He then introduced divorce records that Spears signed in 2006 and a couple weeks before the hit-and-run accident that stated, under penalty of perjury, that she lived in California.

Spears' fate will be decided by a jury of eight women and four men.

Once a jury was seated, the case barreled forward, with Amerian spending two minutes to give his opening statement. He called the case "very straightforward."

The prosecution's first witness, Gary Edmonds, said records indicated that Spears had not applied for a license as of Aug. 15, 2007 — more than a week after the hit-and-run.

Flanagan also told jurors that Spears had attempted to apply for a California license months before the accident, but the DMV was unable to take her photo.

If convicted, Spears faces jail time and a fine, although she has no prior criminal record, so her penalty is unlikely to be severe.

Flanagan has said he will appeal if Spears is convicted. Before the trial he had said he was considering mounting no defense, but changed his mind and called Spears' father. He was able to speak with authority about his daughter's affairs since he has controlled them since February, when a court granted him conservatorship over Spears' personal and financial matters.

Source: Yahoo!

Dad Testifies Britney Spears's Home Is Louisiana

The following italicized article is from www.people.com:

Britney Spears's father Jamie testified in her misdemeanor driving-without-a-license trial Thursday that California isn't her permanent residence.

"Her home is Louisiana," he said in a Southern drawl. As for when she'll be returning to Louisiana, "There's plans right now," he said.

The 26-year-old pop star, who was not in court, faces up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine on a charge of not having a valid license at the time of an August 2007 fender-bender. She had a Louisiana license, but prosecutors contend Spears should have had a California license as a resident of the state.

The prosecution rested its case after calling one witness: Department of Motor Vehicles investigator Gary Edmonds, who testified a DMV document showed that Spears was not licensed in California on the day of the accident.

Jamie Spears, 56, who legally controls his daughter's affairs, took the stand for the defense, saying that his daughter is in California for the sake of her two sons.

"We're here with her kids," he said. "We have visitation rights. We have to stay to augment those rights."

Britney, whose ex-husband Kevin Federline has primary custody of their children, will move back to Louisiana once "we can travel with the kids (out of state) and spend time there," her father said.

He went on to describe numerous family members who currently live there, including Britney's mother, sister, aunts, uncles, and her newborn niece.

Britney currently owns homes in Louisiana, New York, Florida and California. She acquired her Louisiana home "eight and a half years ago," he said.

Asked where he lives, Jamie replied, "I live with her. In Beverly Hills." Then asked for his primary residence, he said, "Louisiana."

Prosecutor Michael Amerian countered by stating that Spears's voter status in Louisiana is inactive because she hasn't voted there for some time. He also showed the jury her divorce filings, which indicated she was a California resident.

Closing arguments were set for Friday morning.

Source: People

Jury Seated in Britney Spears Traffic Trial

The following italicized article is from www.people.com:

A jury was seated Thursday in Britney Spears's misdemeanor driving-without-a-license trial in a Van Nuys, Calif. court.

The 12-person panel, with two alternates, includes 10 women and four men.

Of these, at least eight expressed some form of sympathy for the pop star when asked their opinion of her, although most felt neutral in their overall impression of Spears.

Said Juror No. 1, "I think she's a train wreck, but it's not her doing. She has some not good people around her. It's a sad situation."

At least three of the seated jurors expressed sentiments that Spears was under "too much pressure" from the constraints of fame. Juror No. 18 said Spears had "enormous success at a young age."

In addition, juror No. 13 stated that Spears suffers "medical problems, but with the right help, she'll be okay."

Several who had negative views of Spears, as well as many with no opinion, were dismissed in the court's effort to seat a fair jury.

Opening Statement

Soon after the jury was seated, prosecutor Michael Amerian's brief opening statement called the case "straightforward. Spears was driving on Aug. 6, 2007, and did not have a California license." He added that the jury would conclude "that she is in fact, guilty."

Spears's attorney Michael Flanagan then argued that Spears, in possession of a valid Louisiana state license, was not required to get one for California until she becomes a permanent resident of the state.

"She regards Louisiana as her [permanent residence]," he said. "She's building a new house there, where she hopes to return as soon as her custody situation is straightened out."

Flanagan also pointed out that Spears currently pays income taxes in Louisiana, is registered to vote there and never applied for a homeowner's exemption for a tax break on her Los Angeles home.

Among the witnesses expected to be called over the next few days are Spears's father Jamie, a photographer, a DMV investigator, and several police officers.

If convicted, Spears faces a maximum six months in jail and a $1,000 fine. She isn't required to attend the hearings as it is only a misdemeanor case.

Source: People

Two Jurors Dismissed From Britney Driving Trial After Telling Court 'She's A Bad Mother'

The following italicized article is from www.dailymail.co.uk:

A court case against Britney Spears got off to a bad start today when two potential jurors told the hearing: 'She’s bound to be guilty.'

The star is on trial in California for driving without a licence.

But two prospective jurors were kicked off the case for saying she should be convicted, even before hearing a shred of evidence against her.

'I think this case is a slam dunk. I think she's guilty,' said a sandwich shop worker.

'I was given a traffic violation and I had to pay the ticket.'

The same man also told judge James A. Steele that he would struggle to stop himself discussing details of the trial with his wife - even if ordered to do so.

'If you order me not to talk to her I'm risking getting divorced,' he laughed.

One elderly teacher told the court she could not be impartial as she did not have a good impression of Miss Spears.

'I don't like that person … as a responsible mother. Maybe I'm wrong, but I'm sure that she's guilty,' she said.

The courtroom broke into sniggers as another woman claimed she was not certain she could make a decision without consulting her husband.

Last night efforts to find 12 people to decide the singer’s fate were still underway at Van Nuys Court, California.

Miss Spears is accused of getting behind the wheel in August last year without a valid California driving licence.

If convicted, she faces up to six months in jail and a £500 fine.

The charge stems from an incident when the singer allegedly struck a parked car with her vehicle.

A hit-and-run charge was dismissed after she compensated the other driver fordamage caused, but the charge of driving without a valid licence remained.The Toxic star denies the charge on the grounds that she held a Louisiana driving licence at the time.

Prosecutors claim that as a California resident - having made the state her main home - she is legally required to have a California licence.

Miss Spears opted for a jury trial after rejecting a plea deal of one year's probation and a £75 fine.Her lawyer Michael Flanagan said she did not want any sort of criminal conviction on her record.

The singer is not required to attend the trial, which is expected to last three days.
The case continues.

Source: Daily Mail

Britney Breaks New Ground

The following italicized article is from www.tmz.com:

Britney Spears needs a break from the Hills of Beverly. She'll be building a house in Louisiana.

Michael Flanagan, the lawyer in her trial of the century -- driving without a license -- just told jurors during his opening statement that soon Brit will be building a house where her kinfolk live.

Presumably, Flanagan is raising the issue to show it's not that clear that Brit is a Californicator.

Source: TMZ

Jury Selection Begins in Britney Spears Traffic Trial

The following italicized article is from www.people.com:

With jury selection underway Wednesday in Britney Spears's trial on a driving-without-a-license charge, two potential jurors expressed doubt about her innocence.

"I'm sure that she's guilty," said the juror, an elderly woman who works as a substitute teacher. "From (what I see in) the media, I cannot be fair, I have bias."

Another prospect (the jurors are identified only by number), a middle-aged male employed as a sandwich maker, also said, "I think this case is a slam dunk. I think she's guilty."

The trial on the misdemeanor charge is expected to last three days, Superior Court Judge James A. Steele said. Included in a potential list of witnesses are Spears's father Jamie, several police officers, and a photographer.

By day's end, only one potential juror out of a total of 31 brought in was excused because she stated that she "deals with Britney Spears's business manager."

No opening statements or witnesses were heard. Jury selection resumes Thursday.

The trial began after a year of legal bickering in which the 26-year-old pop star rejected plea deals. She faces up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine.

The charge stems from Spears's fender-bender in August 2007 in which she had a Louisiana license but not a California license. Prosecutors claim that as longtime California resident, she should have had a license from that state.

Source: People