Jennifer Lopez And Ben Affleck's Divorce Judge Has An Interesting Link To Both Stars

Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez's divorce just got a bit more complicated. It has been revealed that the judge presiding over the case has an interesting connection to both stars.

This naturally raises eyebrows due to a possible conflict of interest on the part of the judge and his ability to be impartial in the divorce, especially with huge assets at stake.

Jennifer Lopez filed for divorce from Ben Affleck on the second anniversary of their Georgia wedding, citing "irreconcilable differences."

According to TMZ, new documents show that Judge Bradley S. Phillips, who is overseeing the dissolution of Lopez and Affleck's marriage, has past links with the couple.

This link stems from the judge's son-in-law, Strand Conover, a partner and agent at WME, the talent agency that represents Affleck and Lopez's ex-boyfriend, Alex Rodriguez.

Conover reportedly knows Lopez thanks to his work with the "Argo" star and has also met the "Ain't Your Mama" singer through "business dealings" with the former professional baseball player Rodriguez.

However, despite the interesting link, Judge Phillips has "shrugged off concerns of a possible conflict of interest" as he oversees Affleck and Lopez's divorce.

The judge also notes that he hasn't spoken to his son-in-law about the couple's marital troubles, so there would be no bias or impartiality on his part.

On August 20, Lopez, without the assistance of an attorney, filed the legal documents necessary to end her marriage to Affleck. This date is significant to the estranged couple as it is the anniversary of their elaborate Georgia wedding.

In her divorce documents, Lopez specified that April 26 was the day she and Affleck officially separated. This date coincides with the period when rumors about the couple's marital woes began circulating.

The "Hustlers" star has asked the court not to grant either her or Affleck spousal support and for her maiden name to be restored.

Interestingly, Lopez's divorce documents also showed that the duo had no prenuptial agreements before tying the knot.

According to a report,  Lopez and Affleck's divorce is proving to be both "messy" and "very complicated" since the couple didn't have a prenuptial agreement, making everything they accumulated during their nearly two-year marriage "community property."

This means that Lopez and Affleck will need to disclose their separate assets, and their community property needs to be split evenly in the divorce.

Among the many assets reportedly at stake is Affleck's production company, Artists Equity (AE), which he co-founded with his longtime friend, actor Matt Damon, in November 2022, just four months after getting married to Lopez.

On the other hand, the actor would also be entitled to Lopez's high-profile projects such as "Shotgun Wedding," "The Mother," and "Atlas."

Affleck also has Lopez's business ventures, such as her low-calorie alcohol line Delola, launched in 2023, to gain from when it comes to splitting up assets.

The most notable asset between Affleck and Lopez is their Beverly Hills mansion, which they have placed on the market for $68 million.

According to reports, it is unsurprising that a buyer has not yet purchased the house despite it being on the market for more than a month.

A source told TMZthat the high interest rates on the real estate market currently won't make it easy to make a deal.

Additionally, Lopez and Affleck listed the mansion for far more than they purchased it for, and only a small number of people could afford that price.

Still, a couple of potential buyers have visited the mansion, which implies that it is only a matter of time before it goes off the market.

However, if and when that happens, Lopez and Affleck will likely not make much profit due to the cost of renovations and the usual tax on Los Angeles mansions.

Amid Lopez and Affleck's continued silence about their ongoing divorce, sources close to the singer have revealed how much she was committed to being the best partner during their two-year marriage.

According to People Magazine, the "Shotgun Wedding" actress spent a "lot of time making sure" Affleck was "happy."

This included ensuring that he had "everything he needed" and even caring for him in an almost "childlike" way.

However, despite her immense commitments, Lopez still had to deal with Affleck being "very moody and dark at times," which seemingly contrasted with her more upbeat way of living.

This personality from Affleck hung like a dark cloud over their relationship, and at some point, Lopez's friends had to constantly remind her that "she's not responsible for his feelings."