Brad Pitt has slammed ex-wife, Angelina Jolie, via his legal team. Angelina requested Judge John W. Ouderkirk to be eliminated from their four-year-long divorce battle.
The actress filed the papers on August 7 claiming John failed to reveal other ‘business relationships’ with Brad’s lawyers. She suggested that the judge would be biased in their divorce case. Judge John also had married the former couple at their French estate Château Miraval in 2014.
However, according to legal documents obtained by People, Brad has responded to the filing on August 13. His legal team called Angelina’s filing a ‘Hail Mary’ to delay the court proceedings. Hail Mary is an American reference to intentionally delay a game.
In the documents received, Brad’s lawyers accuse Jolie of making a ‘transparently tactical gambit’ to delay matters. They also added that their children would be hurt if the case is postponed any further.
Brad’s team also alleges that Jolie’s filing ‘an abrupt cry of judicial bias [that] reeks of bad faith and desperation,’ according to PageSix. The couple shares six children together- Maddox, 19, Pax, 16, Zahara, 15, Shiloh, 14, and twins Knox and Vivienne, 12.
Jolie’s team alleges that Judge failed to make timely necessary revelations of ongoing business and professional relationships between himself and Brad’s team. Her team also says she was never given an opportunity to voice her concern or to object to the ever-increasing relationship between them. They further added: ‘These are precisely the type of repeat customer circumstances that create doubts about a privately-compensated private judge’s ability to remain impartial.’
Brad is Concerned About the Children
Brad’s team claimed that Angelina was aware that John had received ‘additional new engagements’ involving the actor’s team. They also claim she was fully aware of his continued engagement and never opposed to the same. Brad’s team further pointed out how Jolie and her team have appealed to extend the time for the divorce case.
Brad’s team also adds that the actor is concerned about the continued delay will affect their children. They stated, ‘Unfortunately, the individuals hurt most by Jolie’s transparently tactical gambit are the parties’ own children’. They continue to be deprived of a final resolution to these custody issues.
However, Jolie’s lawyer says it is unfortunate that Brad’s team has interrupted before judge John gives a response. They stated, ‘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.’
A source close to Brad’s team has said it was Jolie’s team who knew the judge beforehand. They claim that their excuse for filing is because her team is likely going to fail. And also that they needed to ‘stall by changing the referee in the fourth quarter.’
Brad’s team also reports that this is the judge who married them and he is someone their team knew well. Both Brad and Angelina have paid for the private judge to keep their filings and the private and financial details within them sealed. Jolie’s initial filing stated that ‘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. It ‘might reasonably entertain a doubt’ about Judge Ouderkirk’s ability to remain impartial.’
The judge has ten days to respond to Angelina’s filing and he is clearly very close to the couple. Although their bitter divorce battle is yet to be concluded, the former couple is officially exes after they were legitimately declared single last year.
Their custody trial is currently set for October. However, it remains to be seen how long proceedings will now be delayed following Jolie’s latest filing.
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