Names and faces

LITTLE ROCK — The judge brought to fame in the fight over Anna Nicole Smith’s remains says he believes that someone is guilty of manslaughter in the starlet’s death, in a book to be released today. Larry Seidlin, the former Fort Lauderdale, Fla., judge, is harshly critical of Smith’s lawyer-turned companion, Howard K. Stern, and of the police investigations into the deaths of the Playboy centerfold and her son. But as provocatively titled as The Killing ofAnna Nicole Smith is, Seidlin offers no evidence either death was anything more than the accidental drug overdoses they were deemed. “I think enablers should be punished,” Seidlin writes, then refers directly to Stern. “How about keeping her off drugs while she was alive? He was with her every day; how about saying no, and if she kicks your ass out, then goodbye and good luck.” Then, the judge says, “we won’t have all this celebrity blood on our hands.” Seidlin presided over the six-day televised hearing into the fate of Smith’s body, shortly after her February 2007 death. His jurisdiction was limited to control of Smith’s body; Florida never charged anyone in connection with her death. A California court is determining whether she was illegally given drugs. In a phone interview Monday, Seidlin said he was compelled to write the book because he was troubled by the deaths of Smith and her son. “When I was sitting in that trial,” he said, “red flags were flying in front of me and I had a lot of sleepless nights.” Seidlin has also signed a deal for a television show called Psychic Court, in which he’ll seek the input of tarot card readers, astrologers and other psychics to help him decide family court and small claims disputes. He said it was scheduled to premiere in fall 2011. Meanwhile, Stern and two of Smith’s doctors are scheduled to go on trial Aug. 4 on charges that they illegally funneled sedatives and opiates to the model. They have pleaded innocent and are not charged with causing Smith’s death.

Levi Johnston’s attorney is taking exception with a blog kept by his client’s sister, Mercede. Rex Butler says that while Mercede Johnston is free to write what she wants, she won’t be privy to information from anyone with “Team Levi.” And Butler said Levi’s team isn’t sharing information with her about his plans, movements or other actions. Mercede Johnston couldn’t immediately be reached for comment. Her blog, www.mercedejohnston.com, has gotten widespread attention of late, purporting to answer questions about Sarah Palin’s family and her own. Levi Johnston and Palin’s oldest daughter, Bristol, have a son together. Last week, Johnston’s manager said the two were spending more time together for the child’s sake but were not a couple.