Judge rejects bid to move Spears case

A Los Angeles federal judge has rejected a motion to move the Britney Spears conservatorship case to U.S. District Court.

Judge Philip Gutierrez said in Tuesday's ruling that the lawyer who claims to represent Spears is not her attorney and has no authority to act on her behalf.

The judge says attorney Jon Eardley acted improperly in trying to move the case to federal court.

The judge also denied a request by Spears' father, James, and his lawyer to recover their legal costs to defend against the move.

A state court earlier named James Spears as conservator for the pop star. He and an attorney are co-conservators of her estimated $100 million estate.