Halle Berry has been granted a victory in her custody dispute with ex-husband Olivier Martinez, as a Los Angeles Superior Court judge dismissed Martinez’s request for a domestic violence restraining order. The order, which had protected Martinez and their 13-year-old son, Maceo, has been lifted.
The decision by Judge Shelley Kaufman is a significant win for Berry, who had accused Martinez of escalating their custody conflict. "We are extremely pleased that the Court has dissolved the TRO," stated Berry’s attorney, Marina Beck. "As we move forward, Halle is determined to continue to focus on the well-being and best interests of her family."
Martinez’s attorney did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The custody arrangement established under the temporary restraining order will remain in effect until a future hearing addresses the matter.
The ruling follows nearly four hours of testimony from Maceo on October 19, the first day of the hearing. Both Berry and Martinez also testified. During his testimony, Martinez reportedly became agitated and left the courtroom. Berry’s elder daughter, Nahla Aubry, and her fiancé, Van Hunt, also testified over the course of the nine-day proceeding in a closed courtroom.
In his request, Martinez accused Berry of physically abusing Maceo, including allegations of choking the teenager during an altercation on September 26. He had also sought sole legal and physical custody of their son.
On October 1, Kaufman had granted Martinez’s request for a temporary protective order. Berry has consistently denied the allegations. Her attorney previously stated that there was "voluminous evidence, including numerous judicial rulings, that Olivier Martinez repeatedly violated court orders and interfered with necessary therapeutic and educational interventions to the detriment of his and Halle Berry’s minor son, Maceo — misconduct for which Mr. Martinez has already been legally sanctioned."
Berry had requested that the judge deny Martinez’s restraining order application and lift the temporary restrictions. She also sought sole legal custody of Maceo, which would give her greater decision-making authority regarding his health, education, and welfare, while proposing an alternating-week living arrangement. Additionally, she asked to expand her existing tie-breaking authority to cover these critical decisions.
Berry and Martinez were married from July 2013 until their separation two years later. They were declared legally single in December 2016, and their divorce was finalized in August 2023.