09/16/2020 at 8:30 AM in Conversion - Stanley Mosk Courthouse at 111 North Hill Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Non-Appearance Case Review
09/16/2020 Minute Order
The above refer to the matter of Judge Ouderkirk. Judge Eric L. Larsch of the Orange County court has been assigned by the Judicial Council to decide whether or not Judge Ouderkirk should be disqualified from the case. Since the Judicial Council selected the neutral judge from outside L.A. County, Judge Larsch is presumed to be unbiased and his decision on Judge Ouderkirk will be above reproach. If Judge Larsch determines that Judge Ouderkirk is capable of being impartial in the "Jolie/Pitt matter," all Judge Ouderkirk's decisions on "issues affecting the lives of these parties and their children” will also be above reproach. The whole exercise started by Samantha Bley is to address any doubt on the integrity of Judge Ouderkirk's decisions. Bley notably never said Judge Ouderkirk was incapable of being impartial and took pains to clear him of any wrongdoing which would make it easier for Judge Larsch to rule for retaining Judge Ouderkirk.
I think what they were really trying to address is the possible concern that they chose a judge whom they knew very well and who was thus predisposed to being sympathetic towards them. They hired Judge Ouderkirk to officiate at their wedding ceremony in Miraval and then hired him to preside over the case, which makes them his big repeat clients. Having a neutral judge appointed by the Judicial Council rule on the matter would address those concerns.
09/15/2020 RFO/MTN - Family Law (Petitioner RFO for trial in this matter to proceed remotely filed under seal )
Filed by Petitioner
12/21/2020 at 8:30 AM in Department 27 at 111 North Hill Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Request for Order Hearing
Like the ex parte application, a request for a remote trial could have been made by either Petitioner or Respondent. The trial is set to take place Oct. 5 and the looming date is the reason why their ex parte request was granted.
The 09/15/2020 RFO was filed under seal which means the filing contains info re the children and can only be seen by the court. Info re the children would not be necessary for a routine COVID-19 remote request the process for which the court recently expedited. They've also had a previous remote appearance with all lawyers present which resulted in the court reaffirming the S&O on the handling of their sealed filings.
This 09/15/2020 sealed RFO filing apparently contains not just a request for a remote trial but also a 2nd request involving the children and which is the subject of the scheduled 12/21/2020 RFO hearing. They did not include the nature of the 2nd request in the sealed filing's title and cover page -- which is the only thing anyone outside those specifically allowed by the court can see. In other words, at this time, they did not want to reveal what that RFO is about. All matters related to the petition itself are decided by the private judge who is still Judge Ouderkirk while his case is being reviewed by Judge Larsch. The RFO is for an order that only the regular court can issue. It is a step planned in advance for after the conclusion of the trial presided over by the private judge.
Angelina did not want to file. They've both recently referred to the events in the wake of Sept. 2016 as their separation and as though the petition did not exist at all. The petition regardless is part of court record. So I think it may be a request to have it expunged from the record. They allotted enough time for all who may have been involved with the process to review the proceedings and support the request.
"Los Angeles County Superior Court (last month) expanded audio and video hearings to each of its 250 criminal courtrooms in nearly two dozen courthouses throughout the county. Remote hearings are held at the judge’s discretion and with the defendant’s consent.
“The court has prioritized and expedited remote appearance options throughout the nation’s largest trial court system to achieve social distancing and to provide safe, convenient alternatives to in-person court appearances during the COVID-19 pandemic,” Presiding Judge Kevin C. Brazile said.
The court also expanded remote hearings to courtrooms handling small claims, evictions, and collections cases, and will offer hearings in family law courtrooms beginning August 17. The court is developing virtual options for safe jury selection and jury service for criminal trials, which are expected to begin in September, followed by civil trials in 2021."
