SHAWNEE, Okla. (AP) — An Oklahoma judge is defending his actions in allowing country music stars Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert to keep details of their divorce private.

The Oklahoman newspaper reports (http://bit.ly/1U9ohP8 ) that attorneys and others had criticized Pottawatomie County Associate District Judge John Gardner after he sealed the musicians' entire divorce file.

Gardner made public a protective order on Tuesday explaining his July 6 decision. He is retiring this week.

Gardner says allowing the case to be public would have greatly compromised the personal and financial privacy of both parties. He also noted that matters in the case would have garnered "significant publicity" that most others wouldn't.

Shelton and Lambert announced last week that they were divorcing after four years of marriage.

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Information from: The Oklahoman, http://www.newsok.com