The judge who is in charge of the ongoing divorce case between Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie has refused the actress’s claims of him being partial to the actor.
The Maleficent actress had asked for the removal of Judge John W. Ouderkirk from their high-profile divorce case. She claimed that he had not made complete disclosure of his relationship with one of Pitt’s lawyers.
Meanwhile, Ouderkirk responded by saying that he has every right to oversee the celeb divorce proceeding as long as it continues.
The judge stated that he would continue to accept additional or other cases from time to time during the period when the case of Pitt/Jolie is still pending. He wrote this in the court documents, which were produced by Entertainment Tonight this week.
The former judge of LA County Superior Court wrote that such lawsuits could involve lawyers, witnesses, law firms, and/or parties who are also a part of Pitt/Jolie matter. Ouderkirk went on to make a declaration that he will and can remain unbiased in this family dispute.
The actress has been earlier alleged of purposely making an attempt to prolong the 4-year long contentious divorce battle by the actor’s legal team after she asked for the removal of the judge by filing a request.
However, the lawyer of the Salt actress Samantha Bley DeJean insisted that her client is only interested that the trial remains a fair one and based on only facts. Angie does not want favors to be given to either side.
The lawyer further mentioned that litigants can and should feel the process is trustworthy for all parties involved to make sure that there are proper impartiality and complete transparency. A source mentioned that there seems to a complete “impasse” with “no end in sight.”
Incidentally, the judge who is overseeing Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt’s case got the former couple married in 2014. Meanwhile, team Pitt made a counterclaim that Jolie’s filing was “Hail Mary” situation, Daily Mail reports. It is a term used in the NFL for a desperate play.
The actor’s lawyers had alleged that the actress is deliberately indulging in a “tactical gambit” so that the matters get delayed and the resolution of the case takes more time. It was also mentioned that their kids would be hurt the most as a result of Angie’s filing.
Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, who were one of the former power couples of Hollywood, split four years ago, thus ending their two years of being married and a 12-year relationship. They share six children together.