A lawyer for Cee Lo Green has been denied a request to ban cameras from the courtroom as the R&B star fights a drug possession charge.

The Forget You hitmaker, real name Thomas DeCarlo Callaway, stands accused of giving an ex-girlfriend ecstasy before having sex with her last year (12).

He pleaded not guilty to the allegation last month (Oct13), when a charge of sexual assault relating to the incident was dropped due to insufficient evidence.

He returned to a Los Angeles court on Wednesday (20Nov13) as his lawyer, Blair Berk, argued the media should not be allowed to film the proceedings over fears it would "jeopardise" Green's right to a "fair hearing".

She also raised concerns about Green being solely filmed by the press after the judge told cameramen not to turn the lens on her or her staff.

However, Judge Shelly Torrealba rejected the claims, insisting the public had a right to have an insight into his court hearings, while maintaining she would not appear on camera over safety concerns.

A preliminary hearing was subsequently set for 16 January (14).

Green remains free on $30,000 (£20,000) bail.