DeKalb County State Court Judge Wayne Purdom refused to drop misdemeanor charges of driving under the influence of alcohol, failure to maintain a lane, speeding and no proof of insurance stemming from a 1996 traffic stop.

Brown, 33, was accompanied to court by his wife, pop superstar Whitney Houston.

The 1996 charges resurfaced when Brown, a former member of the group New Edition, was arrested two weeks ago in Atlanta and charged with possessing a small amount of marijuana, speeding and having no driver's license or proof of insurance.

Atlanta police discovered a bench warrant for Brown's arrest that had been issued in nearby DeKalb County when the singer failed to show up for a court date on the charges.

Xavier Dicks, Brown's lawyer, argued the 1996 charges should be dismissed because too much time had passed.

But Judge Purdom said the delay in arresting Brown was irrelevant, and set the new court date.

After the hearing, Dicks said Brown and his wife were confident a jury would exonerate the singer. "He feels he's getting a fair shake," Dicks said.

Brown, whose hit songs include "My Prerogative" and "Don't Be Cruel," remains free on bond. He is scheduled to appear in court next month to answer the charges stemming from his recent Atlanta arrest.