Spears Has New Legal Team In Place; No Change In Custody

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Kevin Federline,Britney Spears,Divorces

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Associated Press
Britney Spears and Kevin Federline

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FIRST PUBLISHED: February 19, 2008 2:32 PM EST
LAST UPDATED: February 19, 2008 4:25 PM EST

LOS ANGELES, Calif. --

UPDATE: In yet another twist to the Britney Spears legal rollercoaster, Spears' legal team, Trope and Trope, has removed themselves from her ongoing custody battle with ex-husband Kevin Federline, Access Hollywood has learned.

Stacy Phillips, who represented Bobby Brown in his divorce from Whitney Houston, is now Spears' attorney in her custody case.

There was no change in the custody of Spears and Federline's children.

Judge Gordan also said, whether the conservatorship goes to Federal court has nothing to do with the ongoing custody case, and all of Spears' family law matters would proceed unchanged.

Earlier in the day, the two sides disagreed as to whether the court should impose a gag order on all those involved in the Spears-Federline case.

Kevin Federline's attorney, Mark Vincent Kaplan, argued against the gag order, saying that since the conservators have been put in place there are no "favored media outlets." He also argued that a gag order would infringe on first amendment rights, and therefore should not be used.

Britney's legal team, who is in favor of the gag order, argued it was necessary for the safety of Spears and her two children, Sean Preston and Jayden James. Spears' attorney, Anne Kiley, cited the Alec Baldwin & Kim Basinger divorce as an example.

"If Miss Spears is going to a concert, and paparazzi ask her how are the kids, and she replies 'great' are you going to hold her in contempt?" Kaplan asked the court.

The judge denied the request for a gag order, saying the public has a right to know what the court is doing. He went on to say the safety of those involved was a law enforcement and media issue, and not a court issue. The real concern is the "conduct of photographers," the judge added.

Kiley noted at the beginning of court, that her firm, Trope and Trope, is still asking to withdraw from Spears' legal team, but after today’s hearing.

Both Spears and Federline were not in court today, as they were not required to be present.

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