Angelina Jolie upset after kids couldn't testify in custody battle

Angelina Jolie suffered a major blow in her custody battle with her ex-husband Brad Pitt after he was granted joint custody of their children on Wednesday.

Now sources close to the 45-year-old actress and humanitarian are sharing she feels let down by the courts that did not allow her children to testify at the custody hearings.

One person close to her claimed she did not object to the custody decision, but to a lack of ‘care for her family,’ according to <a style="font-weight: bold;" class="class" rel="nofollow noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" website Six. It was added the star did not feel the court ‘took into account the full set of issues that affect her family.’ 

Battling the system: Sources close to Angelina Jolie, 45, say she’s disappointed that her children weren’t allowed to testify in her custody battle with Brad Pitt, 57, and that the ‘system is at fault,’ according to Page Six

‘The custody schedule was always determined by the court,’ the source explained. ‘It’s sad that Brad’s people are gloating about a potential win when beating a system that exists to protect families and children from issues that harm their well-being is not something to brag about.’

They stressed that Jolie wasn’t simply trying to deprive Pitt, 57, of time with his children.

‘The heart of this dispute has not been about keeping the children apart from their father, it’s been Angelina asking for care for her family,’ they continued. ‘Her motivations have never been to deny the children a relationship with their father.’

Complicating the court battle between the exes was Jolie’s submission in court of evidence of allegedly domestic abuse by Pitt, which <a style="font-weight: bold;" class="class" rel="nofollow noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" website Blast reported she planned to introduce back in March.

Gloating: ‘It’s sad that Brad’s people are gloating about a potential win when beating a system that exists to protect families and children from issues that harm their well-being is not something to brag about,’ a source close to her said; seen with (L-R) Knox, Vivienne, Pax, Shiloh, Zahara and Maddox

Looking out for the kids: They stressed that Jolie wasn’t trying to deprive Pitt of time with his children but that she’s ‘asking for care for her family’; seen in 2019 in London

The alleged evidence was recently submitted, but it remains under seal and its exact contents are unknown.

The Maleficent star is reportedly most upset over Judge John Ouderkirk’s decision to not allow her and her six to children testify in the custody hearings.

‘This system is at fault, and Angelina is focused on fighting a system that does not take into account the full set of issues that affect her family and other families in this situation,’ the source continued. ‘She’s working hard to ensure that other families don’t go through her experience.’

Judge Ouderkirk’s decision may only be temporary, as last year Jolie launched a bid with an appeals court to have him taken off the case because he allegedly failed to disclose business help interests he shared with Pitt.

The judge previously officiated the couple’s wedding in 2014.

Slowing down: ‘Any delay would only work grave harm upon the children, who will be further denied permanence and stability,’ Brad’s lawyers wrote, according to The Sun; seen April 25 in LA

On Thursday, The Sun reported that Brad’s lawyers had made a filing opposing any delay in the joint custody decision.

‘Any delay would only work grave harm upon the children, who will be further denied permanence and stability,’ they wrote in response to her attempts to block the proceedings.

The attorneys added that allowing for a delay would be ‘wholly inappropriate.’ 

Despite Jolie’s fury over Ouderkirk’s handling of the custody case, other individuals with knowledge of the custody case contended that the judge made an informed decision based on hours of hearings with experts, including therapists and child service professionals, who had spoken to Pitt and Jolie’s children. 

Another insider familiar with the couple’s divorce said Pitt’s goal was always ‘just to spend more time with his children, to make sure they’re healthy, happy and cared for.’

Family time: Another insider familiar with the couple’s divorce said Pitt’s goal was always ‘just to spend more time with his children, to make sure they’re healthy, happy and cared for’; Jolie seen with the children in 2018 in Paris

In his ruling, the judge wrote that Jolie’s statements ‘lacked credibility in many important areas.’

He added: ‘The existing custody order must be modified in the best interests of the children.’

However, he’s reserving any celebration over the joint custody ruling in case it’s overturned and Ouderkirk is taken off the case.

‘The process isn’t over, and every step of the way Angie has resorted to extreme tactics to misrepresent her story [to the media] and to destroy anyone who goes against her — therapists, experts and even the judge,’ the source claimed. ‘And at the end of the day, Angie was found not to be credible by all of these people.’

In Brad’s corner: ‘At the end of the day, Angie was found not to be credible by all of these people,’ said a source close to the custody hearings; seen in January 2020

The insider also referenced reports that the Once Upon A Time In Hollywood actor had been involved in a dispute on a private jet with his son Maddox, who was 15 at the time.

‘She thought there would be charges brought against Brad after the plane incident, she dropped her lawyer Laura Wasser and claimed that Brad owed her millions in support, which was untrue,’ they claimed.

They added that Jolie has made her children ‘tools through the [court] process.’

The Academy Award winner has been known to bring all of her children to her red carpet premieres in the past, and even posed with the children in intimate photos taken at their LA home for <a style="font-weight: bold;" class="class" rel="nofollow noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" website Vogue.

Going public: The source lambasted Jolie for taking her children out in public, whereas Pitt has opted to keep them as private as possible; seen in 2019 in London