Phil Spector's lawyers have asked a US appellate court to throw out his second-degree murder conviction on grounds of judicial error and prosecutorial misconduct.

In an extremely detailed 148-page brief, the attorneys in Los Angeles cited multiple reasons why they believe the 70-year-old legendary music producer was denied his right to a fair trial.

Among those reasons was the admission of testimony from five women who said they were threatened by Spector with guns in years past and the prosecution's use of a videotape of the trial judge commenting on evidence in the case.

Spector's attorneys said prosecutors improperly argued he should be convicted due to his bad character.

Spector is serving 19 years to life in prison for the murder of actress Lana Clarkson.