U.K. Gag Orders Spark ‘Battle’ Between Judges, Lawmakers

Members of Britain’s Parliament are pressuring U.K. judges to reveal the identities of celebrities and executives who win court orders barring the media from reporting on their alleged indiscretions.

Lawmakers this month cited legislative “privilege” when, during open sessions of Parliament, they identified former Royal Bank of Scotland Group Plc Chief Executive Officer Fred Goodwin and Ryan Giggs, a soccer player for Manchester United, in relation to injunctions they had won. The lawmakers’ actions suggest a war is brewing between Parliament and the courts over such orders, said London lawyer Niri Shan.