Â鶹´«Ã½

Entertainment

    • Jolie-Pitt divorce judge disqualified by appeals court

    This combination photo shows Angelina Jolie at the world premiere of "Maleficent: Mistress of Evil" in Los Angeles on Sept. 30, 2019, left, and Brad Pitt at the special screening of "Ad Astra" in Los Angeles on Sept. 18, 2019. Jolie asked Monday that the private judge overseeing her divorce from Pitt be disqualified from the case because of insufficient disclosures of his business relationships with one of Pitt’s attorneys. In a filing in Los Angeles Superior Court, Jolie argues that Judge John W. Ouderkirk should be taken off the divorce case because he was too late and not forthcoming enough about other cases involving Pitt attorney Anne Kiley. Pitt’s attorneys did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment. (AP Photo) This combination photo shows Angelina Jolie at the world premiere of "Maleficent: Mistress of Evil" in Los Angeles on Sept. 30, 2019, left, and Brad Pitt at the special screening of "Ad Astra" in Los Angeles on Sept. 18, 2019. Jolie asked Monday that the private judge overseeing her divorce from Pitt be disqualified from the case because of insufficient disclosures of his business relationships with one of Pitt’s attorneys. In a filing in Los Angeles Superior Court, Jolie argues that Judge John W. Ouderkirk should be taken off the divorce case because he was too late and not forthcoming enough about other cases involving Pitt attorney Anne Kiley. Pitt’s attorneys did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment. (AP Photo)
    Share
    LOS ANGELES -

    Angelina Jolie scored a major victory Friday in her divorce with Brad Pitt when a California appeals court agreed with her that the private judge deciding who gets custody of their children should be disqualified.

    The 2nd District Court of Appeal agreed with Jolie that Judge John W. Ouderkirk didn't sufficiently disclose business relationships with Pitt's attorneys.

    "Judge Ouderkirk's ethical breach, considered together with the information disclosed concerning his recent professional relationships with Pitt's counsel, might cause an objective person, aware of all the facts, reasonably to entertain a doubt as to the judge's ability to be impartial. Disqualification is required," the court ruled.

    The decision means that the custody fight over the couple's five minor children, which was nearing an end, could just be getting started.

    The judge already ruled the pair divorced, but separated the child custody issues.

    Like many celebrity couples, Pitt and Jolie opted to hire their own judge to increase their privacy in the divorce proceedings.

    "The appeals court ruling was based on a technical procedural issue. The facts haven't changed. There is an extraordinary amount of factual evidence which led the judge -- and the many experts who testified -- to reach their clear conclusion about what is in the children's best interests," a statement by Pitt's representative said. "We will continue to do what's necessary legally based on the detailed findings of what's best for the children."

    Details of the custody rulings have not been publicly released.

    Jolie and Pitt have six children: 19-year-old Maddox, 17-year-old Pax, 16-year-old Zahara, 15 year-old Shiloh, 12-year-old Vivienne and 12-year-old Knox. Only the five minors are subject to custody decisions.

    Ouderkirk declined to disqualify himself when Jolie asked him to in a filing in August. A lower court judge ruled that Jolie's request for disqualification came too late. Jolie's attorneys then appealed.

    The July 9 oral arguments in front of the appeals court focused on exactly which ethical rules should apply to private judges, who, like Ouderkirk, are usually retired superior court judges.

    "If you're going to play the role of a paid private judge you have to play by the rules and the rules are very clear, they require full transparency," Jolie's attorney Robert Olson said. "Matters that should have been disclosed were not disclosed."

    Pitt attorney Theodore Boutrous said the attempt at disqualification was a stalling tactic by Jolie to keep Ouderkirk's recent tentative custody decision, which is favorable to Pitt, from going into effect.

    The court cited several cases, including the divorce of "Modern Family" co-creator Steven Levitan, in which Ouderkirk either failed entirely to disclose a business relationship with Pitt's attorneys or failed to disclose one quickly or completely enough.

    The panel questioned whether such an arrangement should be allowed in California at all, but their ruling applies only to Ouderkirk.

    Jolie, 46, and Pitt, 57, were among Hollywood's most prominent couples for 12 years. Ouderkirk officiated the couple's 2014 wedding, then was hired to oversee their divorce when Jolie filed to dissolve the marriage in 2016. They were declared divorced in April 2019, after their lawyers asked for a judgment that allowed a married couple to be declared single while other issues remained, including finances and child custody.

    In May, Jolie and her attorneys criticized Ouderkirk for not allowing the couple's children to testify in the proceedings.

    The actress also said the judge "has failed to adequately consider" a section of the California courts code, which says it is detrimental to the best interest of the child if custody is awarded to a person with a history of domestic violence. Her filing did not give details about what it was referring to, but her lawyers submitted a document under seal in March that purportedly offers additional information.

    The ruling does not address whether the children should be allowed to testify in the case.

    CTVNews.ca Top Stories

    Mounties have released startling new details about their investigation into the disappearance of Amber Manthorne, who was reported missing on Vancouver Island more than two years ago, and is believed to have met with foul play.

    JD Vance says 'no,' Trump did not lose the 2020 U.S. election

    U.S. vice-presidential candidate JD Vance said "no," former U.S. president Donald Trump did not lose the 2020 election "by the words" the Ohio Republican would use, when asked Wednesday what message it sends to independent voters that he has not directly answered that question.

    A B.C. judge has issued a decision in a years-long dispute between neighbours that began with a noise complaint over barking dogs, crowing roosters and quacking ducks – awarding $15,000 in damages to the plaintiffs in the case.

    A Manitoba professor is warning the public after a book on regional mushrooms that he suspects is AI-generated was delisted from Amazon.

    Canada

    • Two people robbed an Ontario convenience store at knifepoint. One of them, police say, was wearing a Halloween costume.

    • A B.C. judge has issued a decision in a years-long dispute between neighbours that began with a noise complaint over barking dogs, crowing roosters and quacking ducks – awarding $15,000 in damages to the plaintiffs in the case.

    • A Manitoba professor is warning the public after a book on regional mushrooms that he suspects is AI-generated was delisted from Amazon.

    • A former sergeant with the Canadian Armed Forces is suing the federal government for nearly $3 million, alleging unfair treatment after he reported the killing and targeting of civilians during the war in Afghanistan.

    • Mounties have released startling new details about their investigation into the disappearance of Amber Manthorne, who was reported missing on Vancouver Island more than two years ago, and is believed to have met with foul play.

    • Donald Musselman, the convicted killer of Ottawa hip hop artist Markland Campbell, has died in custody, the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) announced Wednesday.

    World

    Politics

    Health

    Sci-Tech

    Entertainment

    Business

    Lifestyle

    Sports

    • Two Maritimers are about to become members of a very exclusive club – the Canadian 80-plus Hockey Hall of Fame.

    • Former Canada soccer captain Christine Sinclair is headed to the B.C. Sports Hall of Fame.

    Autos

    Local Spotlight

    An Ottawa man was arrested after taking a shower in a stranger's house, Ottawa police say.

    Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation) Chef Paul Natrall, the man behind Indigenous food truck Mr. Bannock, is bringing cooking classes on First Nations fare to schools and offices throughout Metro Vancouver.

    The Celtic Colours Festival is taking place at venues around Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia from Oct. 11 to 19.

    Sometimes love is written in the stars, but for one couple, it’s written in the aurora borealis.

    Canadian hip hop artist Dillan King says running 100 marathons in 100 days was not only the hardest thing he has ever done, but the 'proudest accomplishment' of his entire life.

    James Taylor never expected to be walking home with a bag full of groceries he didn't buy.

    This weekend marks the fifth anniversary of a large blizzard that paralyzed Manitoba.

    There was an eye-catching mix of rainbows and lightning over Vancouver following a brief downpour this week.

    Jeff Warner from Aidie Creek Gardens in the northern Ontario community of Englehart has a passion for growing big pumpkins and his effort is paying off in more ways than one.

    • The leaders of B.C.'s three main political parties were on Vancouver Island Wednesday as the finish line of the 2024 election campaign approaches.

    • Taking his closing pitch to a battleground riding in Nanaimo, BC Conservative Leader John Rustad touted health-care promises and commented on the tone of the campaign Wednesday.

    • If there’s one thing two rival candidates running in the riding of Surrey-Cloverdale can agree on this election, it’s that they are in for a tight race.

    • Phase 3 of repairs to Calgary's wounded water feeder main began on Wednesday.

    • A Kananaskis campground is again dealing with concerns about a naked person spotted in the area.

    • Premier Danielle Smith says she will be listening to see how United Conservative Party (UCP) members would like her government to treat trans Albertans.

    • NEW THIS MORNING

      NEW THIS MORNING

      We will learn more details today about a new pilot program set to launch in Ottawa that will provide residents with free reusable containers from local grocery stores and restaurants.

    • The Ottawa Redblacks organization has announced the passing of Canadian Football Hall of Famer and former Ottawa Rough Rider Whit Tucker.

    • Donald Musselman, the convicted killer of Ottawa hip hop artist Markland Campbell, has died in custody, the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) announced Wednesday.

    • Quebec residents diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease will soon be able to apply for medical assistance in dying (MAID) starting Oct. 30, allowing them to make the choice before losing their decision-making capacity.

    • Thousands of victims of crimes received income replacement benefits from Quebec's IVAC program, which expanded its eligibility requirements three years ago. Now the province says those benefits may end.

    • Montreal reached an $30.6 million agreement with Groupe Hypertec to acquire and protect 11 hectares of greenspace north of the Montreal-Trudeau airport.

    • People in the central Edmonton neighbourhood of Cloverdale say arson is to blame for a weekend house fire and that extortion notes were left outside neighbouring homes.

    • Alberta's premier says the next steps in restructuing long-term care in the province will include the "Uber-izing" of services to better connect people with providers.

    • The Edmonton Oilers found themselves down 2-0 early in Tuesday's game against the Philadelphia Flyers because of penalties.

    • Three of New Brunswick's party leaders sparred over leadership style, health care, economy and campaign promises during a roundtable discussion Wednesday evening.

    • Some advocates are calling for more safety for service dogs in New Brunswick.

    • A new study suggests Halifax is one of the most expensive cities for renters of one-bedroom apartments in Canada.

    • The mayor's inner circle has approved a new set of fines when vacant buildings are burned.

    • The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is responding to the recent release of Manitoba's sunshine list, saying the government needs to "rein in" spending on salaries.

    • A Manitoba judge has ordered a community to pay the legal costs for a councillor who they tried to oust in 2023.

    • The sole debate for the 2024 provincial election has wrapped – with both sides satisfied that they've successfully made their respective cases on the debate stage.

    • Following the debate between Saskatchewan Party Leader Scott Moe and NDP Leader Carla Beck, two local experts gave their insights on the event.

    • Saskatchewan Party Leader Scott Moe and NDP Leader Carla Beck debated top issues heading into the 2024 election.

    • The woman who was fatally shot at a Stratford home on Tuesday has been identified, as well as the man accused of pulling the trigger.

    • Four witnesses testified Wednesday at the trial of Erick Buhr, who has pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder in the death of his grandmother, Viola Erb.

    • The sole debate for the 2024 provincial election has wrapped – with both sides satisfied that they've successfully made their respective cases on the debate stage.

    • Following the debate between Saskatchewan Party Leader Scott Moe and NDP Leader Carla Beck, two local experts gave their insights on the event.

    • Election season is in full swing in Saskatchewan, and for many young voters, this will be their introduction to the Canadian democratic process.

    • Police are searching for a 24-year-old suspect charged near Parry Sound with impaired driving causing three deaths who failed to show up for court.

    • The Greater Sudbury Police Services Board got an update on Wednesday from consultants looking into the state of its aging downtown headquarters.

    • The trial got underway with Justice Patricia Moore detailing the jury’s responsibility and Crown attorney Kristina Mildred outlining the case for the prosecution.

    • Sitting in the mayor’s chair with Joe Preston away, Coun. Steve Peters ripped the Canadian National Railway after a massive railroad tie fire on Oct. 10.

    • Charges have been laid after Saugeen Shores police were called to a suspicious fire in the early morning hours of Sept. 26.

    • Police have yet to make an arrest following a fatal shooting at a gas station in Amaranth Township last week that claimed the life of a 25-year-old man.

    • Gordon Locking, 66, was found guilty in a Barrie courtroom Wednesday to several weapons charges, including possession of an explosive substance, stemming from an incident at a supportive housing complex.

    • A woman from Scarborough is facing charges and will have to find an alternate method of travel after police say she was clocked speeding nearly 90 km/h over the limit in Innisfil.

    • The University of Windsor’s Board of Governors will not consider a motion to pause agreements that ended a pro-Palestinian campus encampment protest of the war in Gaza earlier this year.

    • As municipal staff and volunteers in Windsor-Essex conduct the 2024 Point in Time (PiT) homeless street count and survey across the region, the administrator of a Windsor homeless centre said she doubts an accurate tally will be reflected when the count is done.

    • LaSalle police say they have launched an investigation after a “threatening message†was discovered in a bathroom at Sandwich Secondary School.

    • The leaders of B.C.'s three main political parties were on Vancouver Island Wednesday as the finish line of the 2024 election campaign approaches.

    • Taking his closing pitch to a battleground riding in Nanaimo, BC Conservative Leader John Rustad touted health-care promises and commented on the tone of the campaign Wednesday.

    • Mounties have released startling new details about their investigation into the disappearance of Amber Manthorne, who was reported missing on Vancouver Island more than two years ago, and is believed to have met with foul play.

    • Dave Lindsey began growing giant pumpkins to bring a bit of magic to his grandkids' Halloween.

    • A U.S. District Court judge in Montana has sentenced a 27-year-old man from Kelowna, B.C., to 18 months in prison for using fake names to buy guns with the aim of selling them in Canada.

    • Nearly two years after a man was stabbed to death in downtown Kelowna, RCMP have made an arrest in the case.

    • With the growing season wrapping up for many, southern Alberta's sweetest crop is in full swing.

    • Health-care advocates say the province's plan for a new primary care agency, operating separately from Alberta Health Services, won't help with doctor shortages in Lethbridge.

    • The Vancouver Giants scored late to force overtime before winning 4-3 over the Lethbridge Hurricanes Friday night.

    • An effort to bring a deep-sea port to Sault Ste. Marie just got a major push forward, with support from the federal government Wednesday.

    • Some of the world’s best curlers have arrived in Sault Ste. Marie for the second annual Soo Fall Classic that many curlers say has become a can’t miss event.

    • A resident got a scare early in the morning Wednesday in Elliot Lake when an unknown man entered their home carrying a knife.

    N.L.

    Shopping Trends

    The Shopping Trends team is independent of the journalists at Â鶹´«Ã½. We may earn a commission when you use our links to shop. Read about us.

    Stay Connected
    Follow Â鶹´«Ã½