Angelina Jolie has claimed she’s being “denied a fair” trial amid her custody battle with Brad Pitt.
The actress filed for divorce from Brad in September 2016, just two years after they finally tied knot after 10 years together.
After a lengthy court battle, a judge granted them both legal single status on April 12, 2019 while finalising their divorce.
The Hollywood stars are parents to six kids – Maddox, 19, Pax, 16, Zahara, 15, Shiloh, 14, and twins Knox and Vivienne, 12.
Angelina submitted documents to California’s Second District Court of Appeal on Monday to try to disqualify Judge John Ouderkirk from ruling over their case, after he refused to allow their children to testify.
Lawyers for the actress claimed the judge “has failed to adequately consider… input as to their experiences, needs, or wishes” which is in violation of a code that allows minors from ages 14 to 17 to testify.
The 45-year-old lawyer’s told the appellate court that the judge has neglected to allow the actress to submit to the court evidence that speaks to the safety and well-being of the minors, which is “evidence critical to making her case.”
In response to Angelina’s filing, Brad’s attorneys said: “Ouderkirk has conducted an extensive proceeding over the past six months in a thorough, fair manner and reached a tentative ruling and order after hearing from experts and percipient witnesses.”
Brad’s filing said the judge found Angelina’s testimony “lacked credibility in many important areas, and the existing custody order between the parties must be modified, per Mr Pitt’s request, in the best interests of the children”.
It added that the actress’ objections and further delays in reaching an arrangement would “work grave harm upon the children, who will be further denied permanence and stability”.
Back in June, Angelina revealed she split from Brad for the “well-being” of their six children.
She told Vogue magazine in a rare interview: “I separated for the well-being of my family. It was the right decision. I continue to focus on their healing.”
“Some have taken advantage of my silence, and the children see lies about themselves in the media, but I remind them that they know their own truth and their own minds.”
The Oscar-winning actress went on to describe their children as “six very brave, very strong young people.”
