Brit Custody Hearing Closed for Business

The ongoing custody case between Britney Spears and Kevin Federline is far from being closed. Today's hearing, however, is.

Los Angeles Superior Court Commissioner Scott M. Gordon ruled Monday morning that the latest in the ex-couple's series of custody progress hearings will be conducted in a closed session, a measure to keep information about the proceedings from leaking to the media.

Neither Spears, 25, nor Federline, 29, was in court when the gallery was cleared.

The hearing comes just over a week after another closed session was held at the request of Federline's attorney, following Spears' videotaped red-light run—and on the same day as another Spears hearing, this one stemming from her August hit-and-run. More on that later.

The custody hearing focused on a request from the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services, with officials from the agency appearing in court seeking access to certain sealed documents relating to the custody case. The department has several open investigations into the Spears-Federline tots and are legally obliged to explore any claims that are logged.

Spears' attorney, Thomas P. Dunlap argued against handing over the sealed records to the DCFS during the hearing, arguing that only very limited information should even be considered for release as the department is so expansive that the likelihood of private information somehow entering the "public realm" was high.

Furthermore, Dunlap argued that the safety of the now severed family unit was no longer in the jurisdiction of the DCFS, rather in that of the court, and that the department's request did not warrant complete access to the case files.

"The court has taken all steps to ensure the children are protected," he said.

It's unclear whether the court commissioner immediately ruled on the motion.

Attorneys for both the "Gimme More" singer and Federline have long argued against making public information from the custody case, joining forces earlier this year to prevent the unsealing of certain documents at the behest of People magazine and NBC's Los Angeles affiliate, KNBC-4.

But in September, Gordon ruled that there was a "tremendous and ongoing media interest" in the case and that the release of basic information about would not pose any immediate threat to the safety of the couple's sons, Sean Preston, 2, and Jayden James, 1.

The hearing is scheduled to resume Monday afternoon, where the topic of debate will turn to that of visitation to decide how custody of the boys will be split between Spears and Federline for the upcoming holiday season.

Meanwhile, several miles up the 405 freeway, another Spears case was being dealt with Monday. The hearing, which occurred in open court in Van Nuys, featured Spears attorney J. Michael Flanagan arguing against having the singer placed on probation for her motoring mishaps. Spears wasn't present.

Flanagan petitioned the court to postpone the case to Jan. 2 to allow more time for attorneys to negotiate an out-of-court deal. Spears is facing an allegation of driving without a valid license when she smacked into a parked car in August. She eventually agreed to pay for the damages to the vehicle, and the judge dropped a hit-and-run count against her.

While Flanagan was successful in getting more time in which to fight the case, he said his client was being picked on. The Los Angeles City Attorney's Office has offered Spears a plea deal of 12 months' probation for her infraction, but Flanagan says that's too harsh, because the charge amounts to nothing more than a "fix-it ticket." (View the court minute order.)

"No misdemeanor violation is satisfying to me," he said outside the courtroom.

Spears obtained her California driver's license on Oct. 2. She had previously been driving with a Louisiana license.

Meanwhile, Spears could face further charges if she fails to cooperate with investigators looking into allegations she ran over a sheriff deputy's foot following an earlier court hearing.

On Nov. 16, Gordon ruled that in light of Spears' driving woes, she could no longer be behind the wheel when her kids were in the car. She has since hired a chauffeur to transport her brood on the days she has custody.

Finally, despite reports to the contrary, the courtroom drama, it seems, is all that Spears has on her plate for the moment.

While Britain's News of the World reported that the 25-year-old has been contemplating filing paperwork to adopt twins from China, a source tells E! News the rumor is "completely untrue."