Angelina Jolie allegedly believes the judge overseeing her custody case was ‘biased’ toward her ex-husband, Brad Pitt – and now the actress is urging the governor of California to require domestic violence training for court professionals.
In a two-page letter dated September 29, the ‘Girl, Interrupted’ actress urged Governor Gavin Newsom to back ‘Piqui’s Law.’
The bill would block children from going into ‘reunification camps,’ which force them to live with their abusive parent.
It would also establish domestic violence training programs for judicial officers and mediators on the impact of child abuse and trauma.
‘You will be aware that Piqui’s Law derives its name from a 5-year-old boy who suffered a tragic fate, killed by his father in April of 2017,’ Jolie wrote.
‘Piqui’s mother, Ana Estevez, fought unsuccessfully within the California family court to secure protection for her child.
‘Over the past six years, Ana has collaborated with California legislators to ensure that authorities do not overlook or dismiss the signs of abuse, signs that tragically result in harm and death for numerous children in our country.’
A source close to Jolie said the actress is pushing for the legislation following her experience with Los Angeles Judge John Ouderkirk, who refused to let her children testify about domestic violence they suffered at the hands of their father.
Ouderkirk, a retired private judge who officiated the couple’s nuptials, ruled in May 2021 that the couple would maintain even-split custody of their children.
‘This is personal to her, and for good reason,’ the source said, citing her disagreements with ‘biased’ Ouderkirk, who was removed from the case after he failed to disclose his business dealings with Pitt’s attorneys.
Jolie claimed Ouderkirk denied her children the opportunity to testify even though California law allowed children 14 years old and older to do so.
She challenged the judge’s tentative custody decision and filed a petition in the appellate court to remove him from the case. He was disqualified in July 2021.
‘Their whole family is a victim of system failure,’ the source continued.
‘She has been fighting privately for her family and publicly for other families for years.’
Sources close to Brad Pitt, however, told the New York Post that Jolie is trying to ‘misrepresent the truth’ and harm the reputation of those who testified against her.
‘While the legislation she is supporting is potentially very viable, it has nothing to do with her custody case,’ one source said.
‘It is inexplicable why she would use her advocacy for another defamatory effort to disregard all the objective facts in order to advance her own interest.’
Sources close to the ‘World War Z’ actor’s legal team also claimed the decision to remove Ouderkirk was based on a ‘technical procedure’ and had nothing to do with facts related to the case.
They denied that the judge was in business ‘with anyone.’
Jolie fought to keep custody of the children after a 2016 altercation detailed in an FBI report.
Pitt, who had been drinking, ‘grabbed her by the head, shaking her’ and shook Jolie by the shoulders as they argued over one of their kids during a private flight to France.
According to Jolie, Pitt said, ‘You’re f***ing up this family!’ and punched the ceiling four times.
When the children asked if she was okay, Pitt said: ‘No, she’s not okay, she’s ruining this family, she’s crazy.’
One of the children then yelled, ‘It’s not her, it’s you, you p***k!’ before Pitt allegedly charged at the child.
Jolie held him back, causing injuries to her back and elbow, the report alleged.
The actress filed for divorce six days later, but the FBI did not pursue charges against Pitt.
A source close to Jolie said Pitt had ‘not ever denied his abusive behavior’ and added: ‘If this happened to Jolie in her court case, just imagine what is happening all over the country.’
However, a source close to Pitt said the actor has admitted his wrongdoing in regards to the plane fiasco, but reiterated that no charges were filed against him.
‘Those FBI reports were introduced into evidence in the custody hearing, where he was still granted 50/50 custody,’ the source said.
‘Anyone who testified or argued against her, she has tried to destroy. These defamatory comments against Judge Ouderkirk are demonstrably false, and she has even gone after a child evaluator who testified in the case.’
‘Piqui’s Law,’ formally known as Senate Bill 331, passed the California legislature on September 15 and now awaits Newsom’s signature to take full effect.
It is named after Aramazd Andressian Jr., a 5-year-old boy who was killed by his father after a trip to Disneyland in 2017.
The boy’s mother, Ana Estevez, warned officials that his father was dangerous as she tried to divorce him.
The man, however, was granted joint custody of their son, and the judge allowed him to take the boy affectionately called ‘Piqui’ on vacation.
Initially, he claimed that his son had been abducted – but months later, he led police to the spot where he had been buried in a wooded area near Santa Barbara.
Activists gathered on the steps outside Pasadena City Hall on September 18, urging Newsom to support the bill.
The governor has until October 14 to sign or veto it. If he takes no action, SB-331 becomes law on January 1.
Source: dailymail.co.uk
