Gwinnett Daily Post

Jackson case assigned to new judge

LOS ANGELES — The involuntary manslaughter case against Michael Jackson's cardiologist has been assigned to a new judge in a brief proceeding in Los Angeles.

Dr. Conrad Murray, his attorneys and prosecutors assembled Monday before Supervising Superior Court Judge Peter Espinoza, who quickly assigned the case to Judge Michael Pastor and sent them to his courtroom.

Issues awaiting the new judge include setting a date for a preliminary hearing and Murray's fight to keep his California medical license. Murray has pleaded not guilty.

Judge settles key issues in Hopper divorce

LOS ANGELES — Dennis Hopper's estranged wife and daughter can live on his property while the couple resolves their bitter divorce case and the actor fights prostate cancer, a judge ruled Monday.

Superior Court Judge Amy Pellman also ordered the actor to pay $12,000 a month in spousal and child support.

Hopper, 73, did not attend the hearing but was repeatedly described by his attorney as ‘‘desperately ill.''

Pellman sternly told both sides they needed to come together during what appeared to be Hopper's final days.

Virginia FBI probes threats on Andrews

NORFOLK, Va. — The Norfolk office of the FBI is investigating death threats against ESPN sportscaster and ‘‘Dancing With the Stars'' contestant Erin Andrews, indicating they may have originated in that state.

Norfolk FBI spokesman Phil Mann said Monday that no arrests have been made. He declined to comment on a report by the celebrity gossip site TMZ that the e-mails were sent from someone in Newport News.

Andrews' attorney Marshall Grossman said last week that since September at least a dozen e-mails have been sent to a media outlet threatening his client.

He said the messages discuss the case of Michael David Barrett, who was sentenced last month to 21/2 years in federal prison for secretly shooting nude videos of Andrews.