I’m mega-confused by what’s happening in Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt’s divorce/custody case this week. Back in August, Angelina’s lawyer Samantha Bley DeJean asked the private judge, Judge W. Ouderkirk, to recuse himself or be thrown off the case because of what DeJean called an “untoward” relationship between the judge and Brad Pitt’s counsel. Pitt’s lawyers were using Ouderkirk’s services on other cases and no one disclosed that to DeJean. Plus, Ouderkirk had outright lied about some other cases he had worked on. It seemed like an easy thing to resolve: Ouderkirk should recuse himself. Instead, he fought to stay on the case and now… he is…?
Shut down. Angelina Jolie wasn’t successful in removing Judge John W. Ouderkirk from her and Brad Pitt‘s ongoing divorce. According to court documents obtained by Us Weekly on Friday, October 2, the case is “assigned to Honorable Judge W. Ouderkirk (Ret.) for all purposes.” A source later confirmed that Ouderkirk will be presiding over the case as the Maleficent star, 45, and the Fight Club actor, 56, prepare for their custody hearing.
Jolie previously asked for Ouderkirk to step down from her and Pitt’s divorce, alleging in August that the judge failed to disclose “ongoing business and professional relationships” with her ex-husband’s legal team. At the time, the Once Upon a Time in Hollywood star insisted that there was a “well-documented history” between Ouderkirk and the actors. Ouderkirk, who officiated the Mr. and Mrs. Smith costars’ 2014 nuptials, responded to the claims in detail.
“The Objection to my continued service does not change my ability to objectively view and evaluate the evidence presented by both sides and apply the law impartially,” he wrote in previous court documents, noting that Jolie had “clearly failed” to prove any form of bias in the case. “Thank you for considering the issues presented affecting the lives of these parties and their children.”
Since my law degree is from Dick Wolf University, I would have thought it wasn’t simply about DeJean offering “proof of bias,” it would be enough to prove that there is the appearance of bias, the appearance of something “untoward” happening. Ouderkirk argued that sure, he lied and misrepresented the business he gets from Pitt’s lawyers, but that doesn’t mean he’s biased. But.. Ouderkirk was not removed. Which I don’t get. And isn’t he a retired, private judge? So how will he oversee the custody trial? What in the world? Speaking of, Entertainment Tonight had a curious story too:
Brad Pitt is looking to the courts to intervene when it comes to his ongoing custody battle with his ex, Angelina Jolie. The hearing that was set to take place on Monday has been delayed, ET has learned. One of the points planned to be discussed is Pitt’s desire for equal joint custody.
“Brad is asking for 50/50 custody to be put in place and stay in place,” a source tells ET. “Angelina wants to be fair when it comes to custody. She is very structured with the children. Brad has high hopes [they can] try to make it work because of the importance of co-parenting.”
The actors had originally reached a custody agreement in November 2018. However, their agreement faltered when the two could not reach an accord in regards to the private judge they’d sought to adjudicate in their divorce case. The source tells ET, “Brad, for the most part, has been respectful of Angelina’s parenting. While he doesn’t agree with everything, he knows she loves the kids and wants the best for them. He also knows his love and presence are needed.”
The source further states that Pitt has “done everything he can to avoid a court situation” but feels he has been “left with no other choice,” if he wants to be allowed more time with his children. “It’s important to Brad that the kids don’t worry about their parent’s current situation and that they don’t feel stuck in the middle in any way,” the source says. “This is a challenge because of their age, but he’s doing what he can. Brad has avoided this court scenario for years, and the last thing he would ever want is for this to have a negative outcome for everyone,” the source adds. “This is about getting his time with the children.”
Another source tells ET, “No one wants this case over more than Angelina.”
Despite some reports that Jolie has dictated the scheduling arrangements in regards to Pitt’s custody and visitation time, ET has learned that neither parent has had control of the children’s schedule in the past four years. All scheduling has been decided by the courts throughout their custody battle.
Wow, suddenly the tone completely changed in the quotes coming from Brad’s team, right? Usually those Pitt “sources” try to make Angelina sound like a deranged harpy who wants Brad’s nuts in a vice. Now it’s all “Brad just wants to see the kids a bit more, he knows she loves the kids.” And suddenly, after four years, we’re hearing that the court determined the custodial schedule this whole time! Wow, that was not Team Pitt’s story. VERY ODD. This whole tonal shift has thrown me for a loop. And I don’t get the judge thing at all.
Photos courtesy of WENN.
Us Weekly is lying. The neutral judge hasn’t decided yet if judge Ouderkirk is staying or not. You think Pitt wouldn’t be gloating if this was true?
@Thanks … Yes, they have ruled. I read about it last week. The source is US Magazine, which I normally wouldn’t credit for any genuine news, but they said they obtained court documents from the ruling on Friday, October 2, 2020. The article, by Meredith Nardino, is titled “Angelina Jolie Loses Battle to Remove Judge from Brad Pitt Divorce Case”
https://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/angelina-jolie-fails-to-remove-judge-from-brad-pitt-divorce-case/
They didn’t post the actual documents though did they? The filings on the court site show Brad’s requests were rejected regarding the judge. His contract expires in the coming weeks. To renew, both parties must agree. Angelina will not. The court hearings are delayed. Brad and the judge requested to start immediately. They were denied. Therefore, the judge will be off the case due to his contract expiring in the coming weeks unless Angelina changes her mind.
you know, that’s the danger with all the lies his “team” is selling to these tabloids. People read these articles and believe it’s the truth cause obviously not everyone check if it’s fake news or not.
That link to US Weekly should be removed. It contains false misleading information.
Agree @ Sooowhat! Both Brad and the shady judge were trying to make the custody trial happen this week, but the court DENIED. They were being sneaky & thinking that they would be able to get favorable custody trial for Brad if they hurry up with the requests.
There were another article from either ET or Eonline over the weekend and there was a sentence that stood out for me: “Brad wants 50/50 custody so that anytime Angelina wants to take the children out of county/state/country for traveling, she will need Brad’s permission to do so”. He’s such a controlling freak that he wants her to grovel and ask for his permission when she wants to leave LA for any reason.
Angelina had said “The children see lies about themselves in the media, but I remind them that they know their own truth and their own minds” so now Angelina and her lawyer had filed the motion for Family Code section 3042 be evoked then the court would have to consider and give weight to the children’s preferences as to custody and visitation with each parent. I won’t be surprised if before next year’s court date, Brad would leak that in the best interests of the kids, he and Angelina have worked out a custody arrangement to avoid going to court which he did the same back in 2018 prior of them having to go to court! Angelina then gave the statements saying that she’s relieved that it’s over and now the family could focus on healing. All of his lying and cheating is to control Angelina and to avoid paying more for child support.
He’s scared shitless because the kids will be heard in the court coming January. He’s about to pay for all the harmful gaslighting he has done.
Exactly,
this line “Pitt has done everything he can to avoid a court situation” is about the only believable thing to come out of Pitt PR flacks in a very long time. I bet his ass doesn’t want to see the inside of a courtroom.
This is from ET: “Ouderkirk declares he has no personal bias or prejudice concerning any party‚ attorney or any other person participating in this case. Further, he denies under penalty of perjury that he has failed to disclose multiple professional, business, and financial relationships, created and ongoing during the course of this matter, with Respondent’s counsel and their law firms in which Judge Ouderkirk was privately compensated.”
The judge states under penalty of perjury he did disclose all dealings with the attorneys. I’m sure Jolie’s attorney will appeal the decision if that is not the case.
The hearing was not set for this week. Tabloids lying. Documents still being filed. The lying Judge isn’t overseeing things as yet still undecided.
“All scheduling has been decided by the courts throughout their custody battle.”
Wow. That’s a major detail conveniently overlooked. Pitt not seeing the kids “as much as he wants” is due to the courts, not Jolie.
That part will be overlooked and the narrative he’s spewed out for the last few years will stick. She’s the evil one who denied him, denied him and she was threatened to have the kids taken from her by the courts! Of course much like trumper times the logic is unsound. She was “threatened” and yet he still sees the kids minimally and no one has taken them away from her? Amazing isn’t it?
I really hope this case can be settled. Four years is such a long time. Hopefully after this, they can all move forward as a family.
Yes, w/o him b/c he is a mess.
The change in tone is because Angelina & Samantha filed new filing and evoked Family code section 3042. The children do not want to see Brad and want to testify. They have also requested the court appointed therapist to be excluded from the witness list ( I read some reviews and that therapist is horrible and doesn’t care about placing children in abusive situations).
The corrupt judge tried to get the trial started this week but thankfully in US, you cannot start trails until end of November. His request was shut down multiple times by the court.
Brad is losing and he knows it will come out in public, hence him trying to change the PR smear campaign.
Wow just wow Angie is a very strong woman I applaud her. 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽
@Siierra thank you for the information
Thinking about the many extensions he filed and all the delays he caused, it’s funny to see it all backfiring in his face. He could’ve resolved things quietly and still manage to lie and get away with it. But instead, he pushed things too far and it’s going to unravel very publicly so he won’t be able to obscure the truth when it leaks. The timer is about to go off on how long he can get away with lies and hiding the truth. Should’ve settled years ago.
He should be ashamed of himself b/c it’s been 4 years and he still has nothing since his kids don’t even like him but he has only himself to blame.
All his gaslighting and smearing are coming back to him tenfold! Isn’t it ironic that it’s him saying Angelina had gone too far by trying to disqualify the shady judge at the last minute like a quarterback throwing a hail marry ball but it turns out it’s him pretending to be nice and allegedly agreed with most of Angelina’s parenting skills at the last minute. Nope, the children have seen and read what he did to their mother, least of all trying to humiliate and devalue her by bringing his married girlfriend to their family home on their 6th wedding anniversary back in August. I don’t think they will forget or forgive him anytime soon. As I said previously, he’s trying to get ahead of his missteps with the constant gaslighting and smearing of Angelina but in the end he only makes it worse for himself. The ones that will get hurt the most are his children and apparently he doesn’t seem to care unless he can use them to win against his ex wife.
This tracks with everything we’ve heard so far from Angelina’s team. She has left it to the courts to decide. I would hope the judge would be impartial but so far his actions, whether intentional or not, doesn’t help all parties. If Brad wanted to resolved this as quickly as possible he wouldn’t have kept requesting for extension after extensions. And he didn’t need to tell us he doesn’t approve of all her parenting choices, she is not the one who didn’t hit her son in the face in a plane and terrorised the others.
@Sierra: Thanks for that info. I had not read about Family code section 3042. That really changes things.
Welcome, the credit goes to Fas de Angelina Jolie fan page. Some wonderful ladies there explaining the court papers and what each section code means.
You’re absolutely right Sierra👏🏻👏🏻 He lost big time and like the manipulative evil person he’s he is changing tunes. I dance a little when I saw family code section 3042 being evoked by Angelina’s lawyers. I hope the kids go hard on him in the court.
Us weekly is lying, the disqualification of the judge hasn’t been decided on yet. A neutral judge from Orange county was appointed about 3 weeks ago to hear the matter, he hasn’t ruled yet.
The trial would have started yesterday, but isn’t happening because of a general order from the Superior courts about family court trials lasting longer than 5 days not going ahead until after 16 November due to covid. Judge Ouderkirk tried to get authorization 3 weeks ago to proceed with trial prep, and was denied, and Pitt tried to get authorization last friday the 2nd of October by filing an ex parte application for the trial to go ahead yesterday, and was also denied. I’m not sure what it is he was trying to do exactly, because as long as the Ouderkirk disqualification hasn’t been ruled on, this trial wasn’t going to continue, and well the covid general order too.
All this is moot anyway, as Ouderkirk’s contract expires soon, so it’s highly unlikely he will decide this case whatever happens. This ET story is predictable spin from Pitt, pretending to play nice and poor Brad just wants to see his kids, Angelina filed an RFO Friday, family code 3042 that will be heard in January 2021. She’s asking that the kids, (the twins), preference is heard, that they are old enough to have a say on custody and visitation matters. So much about the reporting around this case bothers me, because it’s lies even though so much is there in black and white, in the form of court documents or filings. It’s awful and just plain wrong that us weekly is lying or misrepresenting court documents.
SUCH a gaslighter.
I really hope they can get this settled and it doesn’t come to the point of the kids having to testify. That would be traumatic for them, especially if someone leaks the details.
Is the 50/50 custody thing to avoid paying child support? A friend is going through that right now, despite the dad definitely not being an equal parent.
Sometimes children want to have their voices heard – not masked by the opinion of others or their views
I was thinking about how difficult that must be particularly with these kids. Wondering if people judge you and your safety or are thinking about how hot your dad used to be/how difficult you mum is portrayed to be by certain media
50/50 is used all the time to try to escape child maintenance and then not actually being up to or adhering to it. I feel for your friend.
He only looked after his image and neglected his children’s wellbeing by gasligtibg them and their mother for last 4 years. Any wonder why he still not out of monitored visits with 3 childten and other 3 don’t see him. Not forgetting the elephant in the room for last 4 years Brad Pitt still hasn’t even got 50/50 custody despite having all the means and a cproupt judge and laywers
LMAO Us Weekly will have to come up with a new Pitt narrative to gaslight Angelina after they spread the fake news about her losing to Pitt and being denied.
Looks like taking your married swinger escort to the family home in his sixth wedding aniversary week and further abhorant table read with an equally desprate Ex Jennifer Aniston, hadn’t made his kids love him more.
Lets see how Brad Pitt who refused the kids to gave their own counsel when angelina was pleading him to get in 2016, and he point blank refused to fo so, now 4 years latet kids are old enoigh to voice their opinions , wonder if Brad Pitt regrets saying no back then to Angelina. She wanted the kid’s to have their voice and gace an.i dipendant body helping tgem with no conflict if intrest, yet again 4 years later Brad now has no choice to say no. He was too busy prptecting his own image than pritectibg the kids wellbeing. Let’s see how he will v2 able to cope when he has to face the opinions of your children. At the end if the day he us a nearing 57 year old man who.allowed his anger and addictions and cause for fighting dirty just to make kids mother a pariah in the eyes of public , has just backfired on him when he can’t hide what has doing from his own kids
Brad Pitt is such an asshole, deadbeat. High praise to Angelina Jolie for keeping cool and ca under all this hatefull medi attacks that Brad Pitt has done by his CAA, PR, FIXERS and Lawyers .
Bradley think he’s won the love of Hollywood and public , but he lost the biggest loves in his life with Angelina and their children.
I wish the very best for Angelina stay strong girl, the truth is on your and thechiksrebs side,always. No snout of gaslighting from Brad Pitt will destroy you all.
So the kids will respond to his nonsense. The truth is out , it’s the court who was scheduling his vistation rights ! Nothing to do with Jolie after all. Wow what a revelation!, his mouthpieces & sources said another thing they made it sound that Jolie was being difficult, they vilified her to no end, now she & her kids response! Smart move! Well done to them!
Notice how not a single media outlet is questioning as to why the mighty Brad Pitt has stuggled to get 50/50 cusyody from the courts for last 4-5 years ? I mean all fanatics were saying he would get custody in 2016, and now we are ending 2020, and he’s still busy attacking and deflecting from his real issue,as to why and how could a court have denied Brad Pitt a measley 50/50 cusody ? Considering as per fanatics he is alcohol and drug free and has had so much therapy? Then why have the courts denied him so far ?
Let’s see how many more gaslighting and trolling of Angelina Brad will do till January. After all me knew the children have Sen every thing he has done to their mother and big brother Maddox. Now that the children will be able to talk themselves let’s see how he will like it. In my eyes that is why he is playing nice, we all know Angelina Jolie is a good mother her kids know if too,we don’t need a deadbeat father Brad Pitt telling us that . He should concentrate on his own behaviour and how it has reflected toward a the children’s wellbeing or in this case their trauma.
Wonder if Brad Pitt will update kids on Mrs Nico Mary, the thirsty married swinger girlfriend? I bet the kids will not hold back how their daddy disrespected them by taking the married friends wife to their family home.
The media should apologize to Angelina Jolie, especially knowing none of the court extensions or delays or the kids custody and visitation was on her, but the courts decide.
Pitt and the media should be ashamed of themselves for spreading defamatory lies against has, knowing very well she couldn’t do anything , it’s not in her hands but the courts. As she said 3 yeears ago it’s between therspists, judge and courts.
All this fight from him was all not to pay for child maintenance and drag her to hell.
Well said plain & simple, he is mean!
Same judge threatened her with loss of custody though and ordered her to tell the kids they were safe with their dad.
(I misread the comment)
His PR has been a disaster – his whole awards campaign was a disaster and disrespectful to the mother of his children. Angelina wants a fair trial and the courts will make that decision. I hope the kids are going to school and focussing on their education. They shouldn’t be used as weapons in a divorce. This is about the parents – they should sell Miraval and split the money or if Brad wants it he can buy her out.
I can’t imagine her moving anywhere in a middle of a pandemic. Hopefully not the UK as it has become more racist and right wing and I hope she cuts her ties with the right wing Tory Party that hate refugees and diversity. I would love her to write about the UK government and criticise the policies on refugees, she hasn’t done this yet as she has friends from the party sadly.
Such an evil man who abused his wife and kids and walked away as a hero. Those kids don’t deserve a deadbeat father like him. He’s welcome to Aniston and her friends.
I don’t understand why you all didn’t know this in the first place. Of course the courts came up w/ the schedule. Angie can’t make up her own rules and they don’t agree on anything b/c this dude is focused on himself and public opinion not those kids plus Angie doesn’t want to talk to him, I still believe she has ghosted him. Quit believe this man’s lies in these tabloids.
I went through an 18 month custody battle with my ex. So much of Angelina’s story reminds me of my own. My ex abused me and I finally left after he hit our son. He slandered me to all our friends, saying I was a drug addict, stole money and cheated on him. The judge awarded me full legal and full parenting at our trial. He only sees our son a few hours a week supervised. It was so hard to be quiet and not speak out against him while I was going through the process. Brad is a terrible person to make their divorce public.
That’s so sad you had to go through that but glad you have full custody of your son.
Is 50/50 custody unreasonable? Angie would frequently mention what a wonderful father he was. Apparently, something horrible happened on that plane. I imagine the courts will determine if this incident warrants limited or no custody. Angie might also be worried about long term sobriety. Maybe he’s a great father while sober but not good when he falls of the wagon. This is so sad!! I hope for all of their sakes they can accept the court decision and work to heal as a family.
Does anyone know what county this is happening in?
This all started in 2005 when he dared to divorce Jen Aniston and gal in live with Angelina. He had no backbone then to tell the truth and it has came back to bite him. It destroyed his marriage and his relation with his children. In truth Aniston destroyed it.
All they media slander even when she left Pitt has cut this woman. Her children are that crap. He has never defended her or his children hence her lawyer stating he was more concerned with his image. I guess it was
Let’s not drag Aniston into this. Let Pitt’s actions stand on their own. Let’s not forget Angelina chose to put this man on a pedestal during their years together and praised him to the high heavens in every interview she did. She left herself wide open when he already had the backing of a powerful talent agency and PR publicist for the first couple of years of their relationship. I am an Angie fan who believes she should have gone with her own publicist, say the one who represents Dicaprio and Affleck. I believe she was more affected by all the negativity directed towards her than she let on.
Shame in Brad Pitt for becoming such a vindictive bitch-man. Is it any wonder he boasted he fights dirty and never forgives. I guess Angelina siding with six children and looking out for their wellbeing has angered the little narsasstic bitter manchild.
And to think he has admirers out there imploding on his behalf with his planted lies.
@Becks.. Brad fighting dirty reminds me when Aniston in one her interviews also said she fights dirty. Sure both think a lot- vindictive, arrogant and phony.
2016 that separated and he still hasn’t got 50/50 custody in California, now explain that Brad Pitt? Explain why are you still monitored visits with kids? After all the legal witness lists are full of employees that monitored you? Why is that if you were cleard by CPS?
Care to explain that Brad Pitt ?
Is rather sad that people don’t look at the bigger picture and they know for the fact Angelina has no power over the courts it’s at the end of the day it’s a quartz decision for Brad Pitt to have monitored child visit and it’s at the end of the day the courts decision for Brad Pitt not to still have 50/50 custody since the day they separated. I just can’t imagine how gullible people are who believe Brad Pitt PR games and plants it’s by manipulating the rule of the court and defaming Angelina as the bad parent. At the end of the day everybody can see he’s not been seen with the kids since they did he had a fight with them and they are still having trauma therapy while he acts that he’s single and going out with married swingers. I hope people’s eyes will open now and actually see what type of man he is is he’s a bad husband and equally bad father. Don’t think he’s interested is in his image of the golden Boy he doesn’t care for the children being hurt he just wants Angelina to be destroyed for leaving him.
Let’s see how Brad Pitt will start his Pity Party games that evil mother of six still not allowing him to see six kids without monitors and still not allowing 50/50 custody Let’s see how he can explain that why he hasn’t been able to achieve that with the courts and kids therapists and his courupt judge? Poor Brad Pitt and his Pity Party continues. Let’s keep ignoring the facts that nothing is stopping him apart from the law itself. But I guess he will carry on blaming Angelina for everything regardless knowing it’s not in her hands to stop anything he’s not deemed for for to have.
Heart goes out to Angelina who has to deal with his BS everyday.
Dumb ass brad Pitt thinks the kids are babies still. There is no reason for them to co parent when the kids can decide where they want to be and what they want to do. no one has teenagers or been around them? Does anyone else remember what it was like being a teen? Hello ! they basically do wtf they want to do. If those kids wanted brad they would go to his house that is 5 minutes away from their moms. Derrr
I know right? He’s pictured with a worker on IG last weekend and she said he told her either mask on or 6 feet apart since he has small kids, lol. The youngest are tweens Brad. Not small kids!!
I was looking at latest filings and it looks like he and his teams had filed a bunch of ex parte hearings that were denied last week. They were so sneaking trying to slip by Angelina and her team with giving as less notice as possible. Guess they were trying to get stuff done before the shady Judge Ouderkirk’s contract expire. I always wondered why it took so long with the case but now knowing that Brad and his team had Judge Ouderkirk in their pocket so no wonder it’s dragging on so Angelina would get frustrated and losing money in the case. Such a mean diabolical man is Brad Pitt!
Does anyone know what Angie is proposing in the custody case? Brad is asking for 50/50 custody. I understand Angie does not agree to that. She has her reasons (plane incident, sobriety, etc.). I have not heard what she is asking for. Does she want full custody and visitation for him? Does she want supervised visitation? I haven’t seen the counter proposal. I really hope the court can help them resolve so they can move forward.
Brad pitt chose Hollywood first after winning the oscar he remembered his family … I don’t believe the image of this guy, he seems disturbed … if he loses, he will do something wrong no matter what … They will forgive him, as always because they gave him a free pass …