Leno avoids Jackson trial gag order

Jay Leno, host of NBC's Tonight Show, has come up with a creative way of getting around Judge Rodney Melville's gag order in the Michael Jackson trial.

Because Leno has been subpoenaed to be a witness for the defence, he is subject to the terms of the gag order, which prevents participants in the trial from discussing the case. That has a direct impact on Leno's ability to discuss all matters Jackson on his nightly NBC show.

On February 18, Leno filed a motion asking for an exemption from the order.

"When the court issued this gag order more than a year ago," the motion read, "it could not possibly have been seeking to affect the ability of entertainment personalities like Mr. Leno to comment about public information in this case."

While the motion is being considered, Leno has resorted to other means of discussing the case on his show. On the show transmitted last Friday, he said:

"I'm not allowed to tell any Michael Jackson jokes. I can still write them."

After that, Leno stepped to one side and allowed Brad Garrett of Everybody Loves Raymond fame - who is not involved with the trial - to read jokes pertaining to the case.