SAN FRANCISCO -- U.S. District Judge Susan Illston, who is presiding over the BALCO doping case, asked the Department of Justice Friday to investigate grand jury leaks.

In violation of federal secrecy rules, "It appears that grand jury transcripts from this case have been disclosed ... to the press and perhaps others," said Illston in her written notice.

Illston's order, which followed Chronicle stories Thursday and Friday detailing grand jury testimony of Giants star Barry Bonds, New York Yankee Jason Giambi and other ballplayers, called for an investigation to be conducted, "either internally or if necessary through independent counsel, in order to determine the source of the disclosures."

On Thursday, U.S. Attorney Kevin V. Ryan in San Francisco also requested such a probe.