=== modified file 'lib/canonical/launchpad/database/distrorelease.py'
--- lib/canonical/launchpad/database/distrorelease.py	
+++ lib/canonical/launchpad/database/distrorelease.py	
@@ -648,14 +648,13 @@
             len(changesfilecontent), StringIO(changesfilecontent),
             'text/plain')
         return DistroReleaseQueue(distrorelease=self.id,
-                                  status=DistroReleaseQueueStatus.NEW,
                                   pocket=pocket,
                                   changesfile=changes_file.id)
 
     def getQueueItems(self, status=DistroReleaseQueueStatus.ACCEPTED):
         """See IDistroRelease."""
         return DistroReleaseQueue.selectBy(distroreleaseID=self.id,
-                                           status=status)
+                                           private_status=status)
 
     def getFancyQueueItems(self, status=DistroReleaseQueueStatus.ACCEPTED,
                             name=None, version=None, exact_match=False):

=== modified file 'lib/canonical/launchpad/database/queue.py'
--- lib/canonical/launchpad/database/queue.py	
+++ lib/canonical/launchpad/database/queue.py	
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@
 
 from canonical.launchpad.interfaces import (
     IDistroReleaseQueue, IDistroReleaseQueueBuild, IDistroReleaseQueueSource,
-    IDistroReleaseQueueCustom, NotFoundError, QueueStateWriteProtectedError,
+    IDistroReleaseQueueCustom, NotFoundError,
     QueueInconsistentStateError, QueueSourceAcceptError,
     QueueBuildAcceptError, IDistroReleaseQueueSet)
 
@@ -67,9 +67,10 @@
 
     _defaultOrder = ['id']
 
-    status = EnumCol(dbName='status', unique=False, notNull=True,
-                     default=DistroReleaseQueueStatus.NEW,
-                     schema=DistroReleaseQueueStatus)
+    # private attribute not provided by IDistroReleaseQueue
+    private_status = EnumCol(dbName='status', unique=False,
+                             default=DistroReleaseQueueStatus.NEW,
+                             schema=DistroReleaseQueueStatus)
 
     distrorelease = ForeignKey(dbName="distrorelease",
                                foreignKey='DistroRelease')
@@ -96,31 +97,18 @@
                                joinColumn='distroreleasequeue',
                                orderBy='distroreleasequeuecustom.id')
 
-    def _set_status(self, value):
-        """Directly write on 'status' is forbidden.
-
-        Force user to use the provided machine-state methods.
-        Raises QueueStateWriteProtectedError.
-        """
-        # XXX: bug #29663: this is a bit evil, but does the job. Andrew
-        # has suggested using immutable=True in the column definition.
-        #   -- kiko, 2006-01-25
-        # allow 'status' write only in creation process.
-        if self._SO_creating:
-            self._SO_set_status(value)
-            return
-        # been facist
-        raise QueueStateWriteProtectedError(
-            'Directly write on queue status is forbidden use the '
-            'provided methods to set it.')
+    @property
+    def status(self):
+        """See IDistroReleaseQueue."""
+        return self.private_status
 
     def set_new(self):
         """See IDistroReleaseQueue."""
-        self._SO_set_status(DistroReleaseQueueStatus.NEW)
+        self.private_status = DistroReleaseQueueStatus.NEW
 
     def set_unapproved(self):
         """See IDistroReleaseQueue."""
-        self._SO_set_status(DistroReleaseQueueStatus.UNAPPROVED)
+        self.private_status = DistroReleaseQueueStatus.UNAPPROVED
 
     def set_accepted(self):
         """See IDistroReleaseQueue."""
@@ -141,15 +129,16 @@
                 raise QueueInconsistentStateError(info)
 
         # if the previous checks applied and pass we do set the value
-        self._SO_set_status(DistroReleaseQueueStatus.ACCEPTED)
+        self.private_status = DistroReleaseQueueStatus.ACCEPTED
 
     def set_done(self):
         """See IDistroReleaseQueue."""
-        self._SO_set_status(DistroReleaseQueueStatus.DONE)
+        self.private_status = DistroReleaseQueueStatus.DONE
+
 
     def set_rejected(self):
         """See IDistroReleaseQueue."""
-        self._SO_set_status(DistroReleaseQueueStatus.REJECTED)
+        self.private_status = DistroReleaseQueueStatus.REJECTED
 
     @cachedproperty
     def changesfilename(self):

=== modified file 'lib/canonical/launchpad/interfaces/queue.py'
--- lib/canonical/launchpad/interfaces/queue.py	
+++ lib/canonical/launchpad/interfaces/queue.py	
@@ -5,7 +5,6 @@
 __metaclass__ = type
 
 __all__ = [
-    'QueueStateWriteProtectedError',
     'QueueInconsistentStateError',
     'QueueSourceAcceptError',
     'QueueBuildAcceptError',
@@ -23,14 +22,6 @@
 _ = MessageIDFactory('launchpad')
 
 
-class QueueStateWriteProtectedError(Exception):
-    """This exception prevent directly set operation in queue state.
-
-    The queue state machine is controlled by its specific provided methods,
-    like: set_new, set_accepted and so on.
-    """
-
-
 class QueueInconsistentStateError(Exception):
     """Queue state machine error.
 
@@ -59,10 +50,6 @@
             title=_("ID"), required=True, readonly=True,
             )
 
-    status = Int(
-            title=_("Read-only Queue status"), required=False, readonly=True,
-            )
-
     distrorelease = Int(
             title=_("Distribution release"), required=True, readonly=False,
             )
@@ -71,6 +58,7 @@
             title=_("The pocket"), required=True, readonly=False,
             )
 
+    status = Attribute("Read-only status property")
     changesfile = Attribute("The librarian alias for the changes file "
                             "associated with this upload")
     changesfilename = Attribute("The filename of the changes file.")