Lohan Case Returns to Court ... Without Her

Things may be looking up for Lindsay Lohan—for the first time in months, she has a court date and isn't required to appear. Despite being sentenced to serve 120 days in jail at her last appearance, her case was downgraded from felony grand theft to a misdemeanor, which means the actress won't have to walk the divided sea of cameras that have given her court appearances a movie premiere feel. Misdemeanor defendants in criminal matters can generally have their attorneys handle all aspects of their case without appearing in court.

The Lohan defense is likely to enter a no contest plea at today's hearing, which would end the case. Why the rush? She has an acting gig lined up. The Mean Girls star has been cast to play the wife of John Gotti Jr. in a biopic of the infamous mob family titled Gotti: Three Generations. The film is scheduled to film later this year in New York. Click to read about Lohan's new guardian angel. (More Lindsay Lohan stories.)