Anna Nicole Smith judge cleared in probe

MIAMI, Jan. 7 (UPI) -- Florida state prosecutors looking into the behavior of the judge in the Anna Nicole Smith case say Larry Seidlin committed no legal wrongdoing.

Investigators say Seidlin, the former Broward County, Fla., judge whose emotional, televised outbursts while presiding over a legal battle for the late Playboy starlet's remains drew considerable attention, committed no legal breaches, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reported Wednesday.

Seidlin retired in 2007.

Although the Miami-Dade County investigators confirmed that $460,000 in gifts were given to the judge's family by an elderly Fort Lauderdale, Fla., neighbor, Seidlin was cleared of any illegal activity in the transactions.

Investors also found no wrongdoing in his relationship with defense attorney Lawrence "Chris" Roberts, who claimed Seidlin demanded kickbacks in exchange for public defender appointments, the newspaper said.

The investigators say they have asked the Florida Bar and Judicial Qualifications Commission to determine if the retired judge violated ethical guidelines.