The judge overseeing Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck's messy and complicated divorce has a family connection to both celebs, plus one of J Lo's famous exes ... but he's shrugging off concerns of a possible conflict of interest.
Category
✨
PeopleTranscript
00:00So you heard this story about six degrees of separation with Kevin Bacon that people in Hollywood all have connections
00:07And you know, I may know somebody
00:11That us on a story that you're working on or somebody in the back knows something that I'm working all the time
00:16Happens all the time in this city. There are all these connections. So check this out
00:21With JLo and Ben you we broke the story that JLo has filed for divorce. She filed last week. So what happens
00:29When somebody files is the case gets assigned to a judge of family law judge
00:34So this one got assigned to a guy named Brad Phillips who was a very big lawyer in town
00:41Became a judge and he's hearing the case apparently very smart accomplished guy. Here's the rub
00:48Bradley Phillips has a son-in-law and the son-in-law happens to be a big agent in town. His name is Strand Conover
00:55He works for the William Morris Endeavor agency
00:58We on guess who he represents the Rock and Hulk the Rock Hall. You have it. Oh, WME
01:05WWE. Oh, what did I say?
01:07I'm sorry
01:09WME
01:11and so he represents lots of people including
01:16Ben Affleck he is
01:19His son-in-law reps Ben Affleck and the son-in-law spent time with Ben and Jen together
01:26So, how is there not a couple of wait, but wait, there's more
01:32the son-in-law also reps a
01:37rod
01:39How does he stay on this case and worked with both a rod and Jen when the two of them were right
01:45She of course dumped a rod to be with Ben Affleck and to marry him
01:49So the only person who has a representative is JLo. That's the only person he has I presented in Hollywood
01:54So now the question Derek
01:56In fact, you were in the same law firm as the judge. That's exactly right
02:01We were colleagues at my old law firm before I worked at TMZ
02:03I was at a law firm in downtown Los Angeles Brad Phillips was a partner there
02:07He's now moved on to obviously become a judge and he's doing the right thing here. He's making these disclosures
02:12He's saying look I want to put this all on the table strand call it strand Conover is my son-in-law
02:17But we don't talk about JLo and we don't talk about Ben Affleck at the dinner table and I will not talk to them at
02:23All so it won't affect my impartiality and my and my feelings on this case. How do you get around though?
02:29The I mean the simple fact is that Ben doing well in life is beneficial for this guy's daughter
02:34It's how do you get around that even the word beneficial sounds like the two of them, you know
02:40It's it's a perfect point and JLo could say look
02:43I think this guy when he's looking over our finances and making judgment calls about how we split things up might have a bias here
02:49She can phrase that objection and he would probably take himself off the case
02:52But he's laying it all out on the table so that she can't say that after the fact and he's saying it's not gonna make
02:56An impact on me. So
02:58Look, you know, I was thinking about this and there are a couple of things number one in the law
03:04there are two things there's an actual conflict conflict and the appearance of a
03:09Conflict and even the appearance is a big issue. So when you think about it look
03:15The divorce is really contentious. They have no prenup, which is one of the more shocking things
03:21I've ever seen in law and that's number one and number two
03:25They have not been able to work out a property settlement because there's a lot of entanglement
03:29They both have had a lot of projects during the two years. They were married. They have this house
03:34There's a lot to undo including his production company, which was formed during the marriage and it's all community property
03:41So they got to work this out. They've spent months trying they haven't it's gotten acrimonious. They haven't spoken at times
03:47So this could end up before the judge and then the question how's JLo gonna feel
03:54When a ruling or two go against her and that's gonna be a big issue
04:00But she has to raise it now, right? That's right. She can't say it's what we call sandbagging
04:04She can't sit back wait to see what the result is and then try to challenge it
04:09He's saying look here are the disclosures. I am related to strand if you'd like me or accused from the case file your objection
04:14I don't think I'd be impartial or biased in any I think I would be impartial
04:18I wouldn't be biased but go ahead and challenge it now. Don't wait until the end
04:22I'm Haley from the Carver, Washington
04:24And you know the messy ending to the second round whirlwind romance with Bennifer is not that shocking
04:31You know, I think it is pretty crazy. Those judges the judge's son-in-law is connected to both Ben Affleck and Jennifer's ex
04:40I don't necessarily see there being a conflict of interest
04:42But in reality, it's Hollywood it's so messy so many things can happen
04:47But I do bet in the next five years or so or less Jennifer is going to come out with a new movie documentary
04:53Maybe even another musical
04:56Showcasing this whole situation and yeah, forget about the musical. Is she gonna remarry? Yeah, that's true. That's the thing
05:05I think the answer is definitely yes
05:12You