BRITNEY SPEARS - JUDGE REJECTS LEGAL BID FOR SPEARS CUSTODY GAG ORDER

BRITNEY SPEARS' lawyers failed in their bid for a news blackout on the troubled star's child custody battle on Tuesday (19Feb08). Attorney Anne Kiley argued a gag order is necessary because the media coverage of Spears' fight with ex-husband Kevin Federline over their two children is "emotionally and physically" dangerous for the Toxic singer. But Los Angeles Superior Court commissioner Scott Gordon declined Kiley's request for a ban on attorneys discussing the case with reporters. Gordon did acknowledge Kiley's concern about the frenzied paparazzi attention Spears receives wherever she goes. He said, "The concern really is the conduct of the photographers. That's a law enforcement issue and an issue for the kind gentlemen and ladies of the press to deal with appropriately. "The concern you have is a real one. But it should be dealt with without infringing on the First Amendment." Neither Spears nor Federline were in court for the hearing.