Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt face another complication in their nearly four-year-long divorce proceedings. Jolie, 45, recently requested the removal of Judge John W. Ouderkirk, overseeing their divorce since 2017.
In court documents obtained by PEOPLE, Jolie claims that Ouderkirk failed to disclose ongoing business relationships with Pitt’s legal team, which she argues makes him biased. Ouderkirk, who also officiated Jolie and Pitt’s wedding in 2014, has yet to respond to the request.
Pitt’s legal team has dismissed Jolie’s move as a tactic to delay the case, particularly the upcoming child custody trial scheduled for October.
They argue that Jolie has known about Ouderkirk’s other engagements with Pitt’s attorneys and has not objected until now. Pitt’s filing highlights instances where Jolie extended Ouderkirk’s appointment without concern.
Jolie’s lawyer, Samantha Bley DeJean, responded by accusing Pitt’s team of trying to influence the judge’s response and obstructing the proceedings.
She insists that the issue lies in Ouderkirk’s recent undisclosed relationships with Pitt’s counsel, which Jolie’s team believes compromise his impartiality.
A source close to Pitt claims that Jolie’s team attempts to stall the proceedings because they fear losing the custody battle.
They note that Ouderkirk was initially introduced to the couple by Jolie’s team, who had also previously worked with him.
Jolie and Pitt, declared legally single last year, continue to finalize their divorce. They share six children: Maddox, 18, Pax, 16, Zahara, 15, Shiloh, 14, and twins Knox and Vivienne, 12.
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