The 43-year-old singer appeared via video link from Antwerp, Belgium and wore a black collared shirt. He pleaded not guilty to driving while intoxicated.

Sag Harbor Village Justice Carl Irace also reprimanded the musician's lawyer, Edward Burke Jr, for "irresponsible" comments he made at the last court hearing, adding it "comes off as an attempt to poison the case before it even begins", Sky News' US partner, NBC News reported.

The judge even threatened to issue a gag order if the lawyer continued to make such comments.

Mr Burke has maintained that Timberlake was not drunk and that the case should be dropped.

"The facts remain he was not intoxicated," Mr Burke said on Friday, according to Newsday.

"I'll say it again: Justin Timberlake was not intoxicated and we're very confident that charge, that criminal charge, will be dismissed."

Timberlake was arrested in the early hours of 18 June, after police said he failed to stop at a stop sign and could not stay in his lane while driving in Long Island, New York state.

Court documents stated his eyes were "bloodshot and glassy" and that he "performed poorly on all standardised field sobriety tests".

Timberlake, who allegedly refused to take a breath test following his arrest, has strongly denied the allegations.

His lawyer Edward Burke has claimed police made "errors" in submitted documents for the case.

The singer had reportedly been having dinner with friends before he left a restaurant and was pulled over by police.

Timberlake, who is currently on tour in Europe, appeared to joke about the arrest while performing in Boston last month, asking the crowd: "Is there anyone here that is driving? No, I'm just kidding."

A child star, Timberlake performed as a young Disney Mouseketeer alongside Britney Spears - who he later famously dated - Ryan Gosling and Christina Aguilera.

In 1995, he became part of NSYNC - one of the best-selling boy bands of all time - and embarked on a solo recording career in the early 2000s.

Timberlake is married to actress Jessica Biel, and the couple have two sons together.

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