Brad Pitt's lawyers claim Angelina Jolie has 'deprived' their children amid custody battle

Brad Pitt's lawyers are hitting back after his ex Angelina Jolie requested to have the judge disqualified in their forthcoming child custody trial.

Earlier this week, the 45-year-old actress suggested that Judge John W. Ouderkirk should be removed from their case because of his "ongoing, repeat-customer relationship" with Pitt's lawyers.

"All my client is asking for is a fair trial based on facts, with no special favours extended to either side. The only way litigants can trust the process is for everyone involved to ensure that there is transparency and impartiality," said Jolie's lawyer Samantha Bley DeJean to Us Weekly.

Now Pitt's lawyers have responded.

In court documents obtained by Us Weekly, Pitt's attorneys called Jolie's attempts to have the judge removed "belated" while pointing out that Ouderkirk "has had a well-documented history" with the former couple who split in 2016 after two years of marriage.

In the documents, the 56-year-old's lawyers pointed out that the Maleficent actress "hand-selected" the judge to oversee their wedding in 2014 and that Jolie has only recently objected to Ouderkirk's "continued involvement" in their custody battle.

"Jolie's abrupt cry of judicial bias reeks of bad faith and desperation, not to mention careless disregard for the procedural rules intended to root out legitimately conflicted judicial officers," said Pitt's lawyers in the documents obtained by the outlet.

"Unfortunately, the individuals hurt most by Jolie's transparently tactical gambit are the parties' own children, who continue to be deprived of a final resolution to these custody issues. Jolie's motion should therefore be denied."

Jolie's attorney DeJean responded to Pitt's lawyers' claims in a statement shared with Us Weekly.

"It is unfortunate that Mr. Pitt's team has sought to intervene ahead of Judge Ouderkirk's response. One can only conclude that this is an attempt to obstruct or influence Judge Ouderkirk's answer. Any delay in these proceedings is due to their zealous attempt to create an unrecognised special exception for their client's benefit."

While the former costars divorced last year, they have yet to resolve their finances, custody or child support issues; the trial is scheduled to commence in October.

The pair met on the set of Mr. and Mrs. Smith in 2004 and share six children: Maddox, 19, Pax, 16, Zahara, 15, Shiloh, 14, and twins Knox and Vivienne, 12.

The Once Upon a Time in Hollywood star was previously married to Jennifer Aniston from 2000 to 2005.

Prior to Pitt, the Girl, Interrupted actress was married to Billy Bob-Thornton from 200 to 2003 and Johnny Lee Miller from 1996 to 1999.