LOS ANGELES — Lawyers for legendary music producer Phil Spector have asked an appellate court to throw out his second-degree murder conviction on grounds of judicial error and prosecutorial misconduct.

In a brief filed Wednesday, the attorneys argue that Spector was denied his right to a fair trial in several ways. They ask the California court to reverse the jury verdict and order a new trial.

The 70-year-old rock music producer is serving a sentence of 19 years to life for the murder of actress Lana Clarkson, who was shot through the mouth in Spector's castle-like mansion seven years ago.

NO JAIL OVER JOHN EDWARDS SEX TAPE

PITTSBORO, N.C. — A judge's threat of jail was lifted Friday from a former aide to John Edwards in a dispute over a tape that allegedly shows the past presidential candidate and his lover in a sexual encounter.

Superior Court Judge Abraham Penn Jones ruled that Andrew Young was not in contempt of court for his accounting of how he handled the tape and other items that Edwards' mistress Rielle Hunter is seeking. The North Carolina judge last week had threatened to jail Young, who he said made a series of conflicting statements under oath.

Hunter has sued Young for invasion of privacy, seeking the return of items, including the tape. Her attorneys accused Young of repeated lies, but Young's attorneys dismiss the discrepancies as memory lapses.

GAY GROUP HONORS ACTRESS CYNTHIA NIXON

NEW YORK — Joy Behar, Cynthia Nixon and the ABC drama series "Brothers & Sisters" are among this year's recipients of media awards from the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation.

"Sex and the City" star Nixon was honored with the Vito Russo Award, named after a founding member of GLAAD and presented to a gay media professional who has made a significant difference in promoting equal rights.

The GLAAD Media Awards, presented yesterday in New York, salute fair and inclusive representation in the media of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community and the issues that affect their lives.

'SOUTH PARK' RAZZES TIGER WOODS

NEW YORK — Golf clubs in hands or not, the kids of "South Park" are ready to take on Tiger Woods.

Matt Stone and Trey Parker, creators of the Comedy Central cartoon, have long since proven that no subject is sacred to them. So in the opening of the show's 14th season on Wednesday, the troubled golfer will encounter Stan, Kyle, Kenny and Cartman in their animated Colorado town.

The scandal surrounding Woods and the issue of sex addiction gave Stone and Parker so much fodder they could have made an entire Tiger-centric season, Stone said.

— Advertiser News Services