LOS ANGELES -- Paparazzi-plagued pop star Britney Spears came to a courthouse Monday but abruptly left without attending a hearing in her child-custody battle with ex-husband Kevin Federline, missing a chance to try to persuade a commissioner to restore visitation rights to her two little boys.

Instead, Superior Court Commissioner Scott Gordon heard a day of closed-door testimony from Federline and witnesses to a bizarre incident this month in which police had Spears taken to a hospital after a standoff in her home when she refused to return the children to Federline's bodyguard after a visit.

Gordon then ruled that a Jan. 4 emergency order suspending her visitation rights and giving custody to Federline would remain in effect. He scheduled another hearing for Feb. 19.

"The word victory is not something Mr. Federline or his counsel would ascribe to this. There is no joy. This is a grave situation for all," Federline's attorney, Mark Vincent Kaplan, said outside the courthouse.

Kaplan said the pop singer would have had a chance Monday to persuade the court she should be allowed to see her children-- that is, if she would have shown up.

Although Federline thought the ruling was correct, Kaplan said, "his goal, his hope for the future is at some point he will be able to parent the children with the participation of their mother."

Kaplan would not answer questions.

Federline temporarily has sole custody of the couple's sons. A family law expert said Monday's hearing was the singer's only hope of regaining visitation rights before a custody trial in April.

There's been no comment from Spears' attorneys.