Police at the time said she confessed to smoking pot and having taken Vicodin before being picked up.

A trial date has been set for July 11 after a judge agreed to put it back from June 25.

Just last week, Nicole appeared on American TV to be interviewed by David Letterman on The Late Show, where she revealed her fear about facing the same fate as Paris: "I’m just keeping my fingers crossed.

"Of course, I’m scared also, but, you know, I’m willing to face whatever consequences come my way, and I take responsibility for what I’ve done," she said.


Nicole ’scared of joining Paris in jail’ - June 7 2007
Nicole Richie has told US talk show host David Letterman she is worried about landing in jail along with her celebrity friend Paris Hilton.

"I’m just keeping my fingers crossed, and, you know, of course, I’m scared also, but, you know, I’m willing to face whatever consequences come my way, and I take responsibility for what I’ve done," she said.

Nicole, the 25-year-old daughter of pop singer Lionel Richie, pleaded not guilty in February to driving under the influence. She was arrested on December 11 and volunteered she had smoked marijuana and taken the prescription painkiller Vicodin, but no drugs were found on her or in the car, police said.

The Simple Life star already had a 2003 misdemeanour driving under the influence conviction.

The California vehicle code says if convicted of the offence twice within 10 years, a person can be sentenced to between 90 days and a year in jail and have his or her driving privileges suspended.

During the Late Show taping in New York yesterday, Letterman asked Nicole, who acknowledged previous legal troubles, when she will learn her fate if convicted.

"Probably the end of this month," she responded.

A sympathetic Letterman wished her the best, saying, "I hope you don’t have to go to jail."

Nicole’s heiress pal Paris checked into jail in Los Angeles on Sunday to serve 23 days for violating probation in an alcohol-related reckless driving case.


Nicole’s email joke - May 31 2007
An email party invite penned by Nicole Richie in which she pokes fun at binge drinking and anorexia has landed her in trouble after it found its way on to the internet.

In the invite to the Sunday night barbecue, Nicole encourages her friends to "celebrate our country by drinking massive amounts of beer" adding: "Take shots, pass out and wake up with our pants ripped open at the seams.

"Let’s glorify this day in your sluttiest tops and your tightest pair of tsubi jeans, even though we have no... clue what Memorial Day really means!!... There will be a scale at the front door. No girls over 100lbs allowed in. Start starving yourself now. See you all then!!!" it adds.

Confirming the email was indeed written by Nicole, her rep defended the star in a statement to Us Weekly magazine, saying: "This invitation was sent via email to her friends who understand that she was responding in a joking manner to the constant untruths printed about her in the media.

"Her reference to Memorial Day was in no way meant to offend anyone but was simply an expression of her distaste for the current situation."

Nicole not in rehab, says rep - May 24 2007
Although celebrities seem to be entering rehab with alarming regularity these days, Nicole Richie’s rep has denied reports that the Simple Life star is back in a treatment centre.