SAN FRANCISCO, CA — Brad Pitt’s appeal against a California Supreme Court ruling disqualifying him as a judge in his custody case with Angelina Jolie was denied Wednesday by the California Supreme Court.
A June appeals court ruling that the private judge in the case should be disqualified because he failed to disclose enough information about his business relationships with Pitt’s lawyers was denied review by the court.
This ruling was finalized by the state Supreme Court. This means that the battle over the five minor children of the couple, which was about to end, could be just beginning.
“Ms. Jolie is focused solely on her family. Robert Olson, her attorney, stated in an email that Jolie’s children’s well-being will not be influenced by unethical behavior.
Pitt’s lawyer had previously claimed that Jolie’s attempt to disqualify him was an attempt to prevent his tentative custody decision which was favorable for Pitt from taking effect.
On Wednesday, a Pitt representative stated that the Supreme Court decision did not alter the “extraordinary amount of factual evidence” which led the trial judge and many experts to reach their conclusion about what was in the best interests of the children.
For 12 years, Jolie, 46, was married to Pitt, 57. John Ouderkirk (a former Los Angeles County Superior Court judge), officiated their 2014 wedding. He was then hired to supervise their divorce proceedings when Jolie filed for dissolution of marriage in 2016.
He declared the couple divorcing in 2019, but split the custody and visitation issues.
Jolie and Pitt have six children. Only five minors can be subject to custody decisions.
