Brad Pitt slams Angelina Jolie's request to toss judge off divorce- and says attempt will 'hurt' and 'deprive' the kids
BRAD Pitt has accused Angelina Jolie of trying to stall the custody arrangement of their six children after she requested the removal of Judge John W. Ouderkirk from the divorce case.
In a filing on August 7 Angelina claimed Ouderkick had "failed to make timely mandatory disclosures of ongoing business and professional relationships" between himself and Brad's attorneys.
However, Pitt's team have now responded, claiming the filing is a "thinly-veiled attempt by Jolie to delay the adjudication of long-pending custody issues in this case."
In the documents seen by The Sun Brad calls her actions a "Hail Mary," and he claims that Ouderkick's acceptance of "new engagements involving opposing counsel" had been "fully disclosed" to all parties and that the Oscar-winning actress had "never objected to [Ouderkirk's] continued involvement in this proceeding until now."
He also claims that Ouderkirk presiding over "other cases in which [Brad's counsel was involved" is also "applicable to Jolie's own counsel."
Brad's documents also point to three previous instances where Angelina and her team had asked the extend the judge's appointment.
Ouderkick was the judge who married the pair in 2014.
Brad's documents add: "Unfortunately, the individuals hurt most by Jolie's transparently tactical gambit are the parties' own children, who continue to be deprived of a final resolution to these custody issues."
Angelina's original filing claimed that she “was never afforded the opportunity to even raise a concern or to object to the ever-increasing business relationships between Judge Ouderkirk and [Pitt’s] counsel — relationships that were providing a steady stream of income to Judge Ouderkirk and the potential for future work
A source close to the case previously told The Sun that Angelina is simply stalling as things are not working out in her favor when it comes to a settlement and custody arrangements for their six children, as they continue to hash it out.
“This is a low blow from Ange and a typical stall tactic used by people who don't like how the case is going," the family friend told The Sun.
"If you feel you are winning, you don't try and stop the process and change the referee, so Ange’s latest move is testament to her frustration at the settlement not going her way.
"If it was, she would never want to rock the boat by requesting for their private judge to be removed."
The source added: "Ange’s filing only serves the interests of someone who wants the process to continue indefinitely as it's going to further delay their divorce being finalized and drag it out even longer.”
Brad shares with ex-wife Angelina Jolie – Maddox, 19, Pax, 16, Zahara, 15, Shiloh, 14 and 12-year-old twins Vivienne and Knox.
Brad and Angelina’s two-year marriage broke down in September 2016 during an alleged altercation with Maddox and Brad in their private jet.
The Sun has contacted reps for Angelina for comment.
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