Hollywood actress and director Angelina Jolie has alleged bias on the part of the judge who oversaw her child custody case with ex-husband Brad Pitt. She is now using her experience to advocate for legislation called “Piqui’s Law,” which would mandate domestic violence training for judges, mediators, and other court professionals to educate them about the effects of child abuse and trauma.
In a letter dated September 29 addressed to California Governor Gavin Newsom, Jolie expressed her support for the legislation and detailed her own experiences with a judge who, in her view, favored her ex-husband and did not allow her children to testify about domestic violence they had experienced.
Jolie’s advocacy for “Piqui’s Law” stems from the challenges she faced during her child custody case, and she aims to prevent such biases and ensure the protection of children in similar situations.
“This is personal to her, and for good reason,” a source close to Jolie told The Post.
“Look at what she faced from a biased judge who was removed by the appellate court for his corrupt and secretive financial dealings with Brad Pitt’s team that violated judicial ethics in her family’s case, and who refused to review evidence of domestic abuse.
“It’s no surprise she has taken on this specific issue. Their whole family is a victim of system failure. She has been fighting privately for her family and publicly for other families for years.”
Judge John W. Ouderkirk, a retired private judge who officiated Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt’s wedding, ruled in May 2021 that the couple would share 50/50 custody of their six children. Jolie expressed concerns that Ouderkirk denied her children the opportunity to testify, despite California law allowing children aged 14 and older to do so.
In response, Jolie filed a petition in the appellate court to have Ouderkirk removed from the case. In July 2021, the appellate court ruled that Ouderkirk should be disqualified due to insufficient disclosure of business relationships with Brad Pitt’s attorneys, effectively ending his involvement in the custody case.
“Judge Ouderkirk was not in business with anyone,” sources close to Pitt’s legal team said. “Like other private judges, he was engaged by both Ms. Jolie’s and Mr. Pitts attorneys on other cases, which he disclosed.” A source close to Brad Pitt reportedly told the Post.
“It’s disappointing but not surprising that she would continue to manipulate the media and the public with [Donald] Trump-like distortions and to deliberately make misrepresentations without any regard for the damage it causes to innocent third-parties just trying to do their jobs.”
“While the legislation she is supporting is potentially very viable, it has nothing to do with her custody case. 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.”
If passed, Piqui’s Law, named after a 5-year-old boy who was killed by his father in 2017— also would prevent abused children from being separated from their non-violent parent, as well as block children from going into reunification camps.