Brad Pitt was reportedly granted more time with his children, after the judge presiding over the actor’s ongoing divorce proceedings from Angelina Jolie made a tentative ruling in his favor.
While the details of their case are sealed, a source told People that earlier this year Judge John Ouderkirk tentatively granted Pitt increased custody over his and Jolie’s five children who are still minors: Pax, Zahara, Shiloh, Knox, and Vivienne. The eldest son, Maddox, is currently 19 and thus legally an adult and no longer subject to this custody battle. But despite this ruling, another source explained that so far nothing has changed in regard to the estranged couple’s custody schedule. They said that Pitt “has always wanted what is best for the kids, and to spend time with them. A few weeks ago, the judge’s decision came down after a months-long trial. Brad has been awarded significantly more time with the kids. He had had very limited time before.” The source added that the decision was made following testimonies from “witnesses, experts, people who have been with the kids. The children’s voices were heard, but they just didn’t testify themselves.”
On Monday, Jolie reportedly filed a complaint with California’s Second District Court of Appeal over the custody ruling and Ouderkirk’s continued presiding over the case. According to the Associated Press, Jolie’s lawyers alleged in the filing that “Judge Ouderkirk denied Ms. Jolie a fair trial, improperly excluding her evidence relevant to the children’s health, safety, and welfare, evidence critical to making her case.” They also claimed that the judge “refused to hear the minor teenagers’ input as to their experiences, needs, or wishes as to their custody fate.” The lawyers cited a California code that permits minors over 14 to testify in custody cases if they want to, making Pax, Zahara, and Shiloh all eligible.
Last year, Jolie also attempted to have Judge Ouderkirk, who married Jolie and Pitt in 2014, removed from the case, claiming that he failed to properly disclose his involvement with the law firm representing Pitt. The court, however, denied that motion. A source close to Jolie explained to People that “joint custody is not the issue that Angelina objects to, there were other issues of concern, but the court proceedings are closed and sealed.”
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