BRIEFLY D.A.'S OFFICE GETS OK TO PROSECUTE.

A judge Tuesday denied a defense motion to disqualify District Attorney Gil Garcetti's office from prosecuting accused madam Jody ``Babydol'' Gibson, who is charged with running a call girl ring.

Van Nuys Superior Court Judge Lloyd Nash rejected a claim from Gibson's lawyer, Gerald V. Scotti, that the incumbent's office should be taken off the case because he accepted campaign contributions from people who allegedly may have been Gibson customers.

Garcetti, in a KABC (Channel 7) television interview Tuesday, called the claim political.

``Let's assume I do have some contributors who happen to be in someone's black book. How does that affect me?''

``Of course there's no conflict,'' he said. ``Of course we can try this case,'' Garcetti said.

- City News Service

Man sentenced in beating of mom

A Panorama City man who did not contest charges that he beat his 79- year-old mother after she told him she had no money to give him was sentenced Tuesday to two months in jail.

Van Nuys Superior Court Commissioner Mitchell Block also ordered Harold Loftis, 61, to spend three months at the Foothill Rehabilitation Center for treatment of psychological problems, as a condition of his three-year probation term.

- City News Service

County supervisors Call for water study

Following a Daily News story that Los Angeles' water supply contains unsafe levels of arsenic, the Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Tuesday to call for a report on what actions can be taken to address the problem.

- Daily News

Temporary LAUSD supervisor named

The former facilities chief of New York City schools has been named to head the Los Angeles Unified School District's facilities division.

Robert Buxbaum, will serve as the division's interim general manager, working from March 8 through June 30.

- Daily News

Death in family causes trial delay

A death in the family of attorney Stephen Yagman forced postponement Tuesday of the North Hollywood bank robbery shootout trial. A defense attorney warned he would move for mistrial if the trial didn't resume Thursday.

- City News Service

New juror system wins wider approval

A new method of jury service has gone into effect at courthouses in San Fernando, Valencia and Lancaster, allowing most citizens to complete their obligation after just one day. The new system, which is being implemented statewide this year, started in the North Valley District of the Los Angeles Superior Court on Monday.

- Daily News