Angelina Jolie ‘wants judge kicked off case’’ due to ‘relationship’ with ex Brad Pitt’s attorney in dragged-out divorce
ANGELINA JOLIE wants the judge overseeing her divorce from ex-husband Brad Pitt “kicked off” the case because of his relationship with the actor’s attorney
According to the Associated Press, the Maleficent actress asked that John W. Ouderkirk, the private judge in charge of her divorce, be disqualified from the case because he was too late and not open enough about other cases he was hired for involving Brad’s attorney Anne C. Kiley.
A filing in Los Angeles Superior Court reads that during the ex-pair’s proceedings, the judge has “failed to disclose the cases that demonstrated the current, ongoing, repeat-customer relationship between the judge and Respondent’s counsel.”
Angelina, 45, explained that her ex’s attorney “actively advocated for Judge Ouderkirk’s financial interests in moving — over the opposing party’s opposition — to have his appointment (and his ability to continue to receive fees) extended in a high profile case.”
It also read: “It doesn’t matter if Judge Ouderkirk is actually biased. Under California law disqualification is required so long as a person aware of the facts ‘might reasonably entertain a doubt’ about Judge Ouderkirk’s ability to remain impartial.”
Angelina filed for divorce from the A-lister in 2016 after they tied the knot in 2014. The pair share six kids: Maddox, 19, Pax, 16, Zahara, 15, John (previously known as Shiloh), 14, and Vivienne and Knox, 12.
The divorce has been delayed numerous times, including recently due to the coronavirus pandemic.
A source told Us Weekly at the time: “Brad is seeing the kids but everything involved in their process of resolving legal matters between Angelina and Brad, including the courts, is slowed down because of COVID.
“With the pandemic, it has been hard for everyone, including them. The legal process is slowed because of that.
“They are continuing regular visits but there has not been a lot of progress in terms of resolving anything.”
Since the court documents have been sealed, it is not known what unresolved issues remain.
While the mother-of-six has been fairly private about her divorce, she did reveal that she parted ways with Brad for the “wellbeing of my family.”
She told British Vogue: “Some have taken advantage of my silence, and the children see lies about themselves in the media, but I remind them that they know their own truth and their own minds.
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“In fact, they are six very brave, very strong young people.”
The famous former couple have been crossing paths recently amid their divorce as last month the Once Upon a Time in Hollywood star, 56, was seen leaving Angelina’s $24 million house on a motorcycle.
He reportedly spent over two hours inside the LA home of his ex – whom he was with over a decade.