Gibson requests, gets new divorce judge

LOS ANGELES, April 17 (UPI) -- A new judge was assigned to Mel Gibson's divorce case after the actor-director's attorney filed a request with the Superior Court of the State of California.

Usmagazine.com said lawyer Robert Kaufman made the request Thursday on his client's behalf to have Judge Rafael Ongkeko removed from divorce proceedings involving Gibson and Robyn, his wife of 28 years, who filed for divorce Monday.

Kaufman said in court documents that Ongkeko is "prejudiced against Respondent and/or the Respondent's attorney or the interest of Respondent so that affiant against cannot or believes that he and/or Respondent cannot have a fair and impartial trial or hearing before Judge Ongkeko."

The request for a change was granted and Judge Frederick Shaller will preside "for all future court proceedings," Usmagazine.com reported.

However, TMZ.com said it is likely the former couple -- who have seven children together and reportedly have been separated for more than two years -- will get a private judge to work with them away from the glare of the media and public, rather than settle their divorce in a Los Angeles county court.