Will Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie ever resolve their custody issues?! As of now, the jury is still out!
As we previously reported, the Maleficent star alleged in court documents earlier this week that Judge John W. Ouderkirk “failed to disclose” a professional relationship between himself and a member of her ex-husband’s legal team, Lance Stephen Spiegel, arguing that it goes against ethical standards.
Related: Brad Pitt And Son Maddox’s Relationship Isn’t Just Strained — It’s ‘Nonexistent’
After submitting the paperwork to ask for a new Judge on Monday, Jolie’s lawyer Samantha Bley DeJean told Us Weekly:
“All my client is asking for is a fair trial based on facts, with no special favors extended to either side. The only way litigants can trust the process is for everyone involved to ensure that there is transparency and impartiality.”
And now Pitt’s team has responded, calling out the request as a “belated” and “thinly veiled attempt” at delaying “the adjudication of long-pending custody issues” in their case. As you’ll recall, the couple split in September 2016, and became legally single from each other in April 2019. Together, the exes share six children: 19-year-old Maddox, 16-year-old Pax, 15-year-old Zahara, 14-year-old Shiloh, and 12-year-old twins Knox and Vivienne.
Furthermore, the 56-year-old’s attorneys attest Judge Ouderkirk actually “has had a well-documented history” with them BOTH over the years, noting that Angie “hand-selected” him to preside over their August 2014 wedding, and up until recently had “never objected” to his “continued involvement.”
In the docs, obtained by Us Weekly, Pitt’s team stated:
“Jolie’s abrupt cry of judicial bias reeks of bad faith and desperation, not to mention careless disregard for the procedural rules intended to root out legitimately conflicted judicial officers.”
Harsh!!
They continued:
“Unfortunately, the individuals hurt most by Jolie’s transparently tactical gambit are the parties’ own children, who continue to be deprived of a final resolution to these custody issues. Jolie’s motion should therefore be denied.”
Then Team Jolie struck back; DeJean told the outlet in response:
“It is unfortunate that Mr. Pitt’s team has sought to intervene ahead of Judge Ouderkirk’s response. One can only conclude that this is an attempt to obstruct or influence Judge Ouderkirk’s answer. Any delay in these proceedings is due to their zealous attempt to create an unrecognized special exception for their client’s benefit.”
It doesn’t sound like a resolution will come anytime soon… but we hope for the kids’ sake, it does!!
[Image via WENN/Avalon/Instar.]
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