News Mash-up: Court Cases

California high court won’t hear appeal in custody battle between Pitt and Jolie The California Supreme Court on Oct. 27 refused to consider Brad Pitt’s appeal of a court ruling that disqualified the judge in his custody battle with Angelina Jolie. The court denied a review of a June appeals court decision that said the private judge hearing the case should be disqualified for failing to sufficiently disclose his business relationships with Pitt’s attorneys. The state Supreme Court’s decision finalizes that ruling. It means the fight over the couple’s five minor children — which was nearing an end — could just be getting started. “Ms. Jolie is focused on her family and pleased that her children’s well-being will not be guided by unethical behavior,” her attorney said in an email. (AP) Death row inmates sue over notification policy Two death row inmates in Japan are suing the country over how prisoners are notified only hours before the death penalty is carried out, demanding change and seeking compensation for the impact of the “inhumane” practice. In what is believed to be a first, two prisoners sentenced to death filed a suit in a district court in Osaka on Nov. 4, saying the practice was illegal because it did not allow prisoners time to file an objection, demanding the practice be changed and asking for ¥22 million in compensation. (Reuters) These articles were provided by The Japan Times Alpha.