Angelina Jolie Heartbreak: Actress’s Request To Remove Judge Could Make Her Look Unreasonable In Court
Angelina Jolie recently tried to have Judge John W. Ouderkirk removed from her and Brad Pitt’s custody battle.
But according to divorce lawyer Christine Previte, Esq., this could have a negative effect on Jolie’s case.
While speaking with Nicki Swift, the divorce lawyer said that Jolie’s request is likely to do more harm than good for her.
“Whenever a litigant in a divorce case requests a different judge (particularly when the litigation has already started), it's often because he or she isn't getting a favorable result with the judge they already have and wants to try to get a more favorable outcome with a new judge. Or it could be because the judge has a reputation in approaching cases that isn't favorable for their position. For example, some judges get a reputation for being 'pro father' or 'pro 50/50 custody,” she said.
The lawyer also said that the fact that there is a long history with the judge suggests that Jolie is concerned that she isn’t going to get what she wants from him. Jolie, reportedly, wants full custody of her children, but Pitt wants 50/50 custody of their kids.
“The fact that there is a long history with the judge they have already suggested to me that Angelina is concerned that she isn't going to get the result she wants and is shopping around for another judge,” she said.
Pitt doesn’t also want Jolie to have the opportunity to bring their kids overseas and away from him. But this could happen if the court grants the actress full custody of their minor children.
Unfortunately for Jolie, her request to have the judge removed wasn’t granted. Ouderkirk also vowed to be impartial when it comes to Jolie and Pitt’s custody battle.
In August, Jolie’s lawyer, Samantha Bley DeJean explained why Jolie asked to have the judge removed after Pitt and his lawyers accused the actress of delaying the proceedings.
“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 are transparency and impartiality,” she said.
But a source told Us Weekly that Pitt thinks Jolie has gone way too far this time around. As such, the actor is left with no other choice but to dig deep and fight back.