Former hand surgeon Michael Brown, his estranged wife, Rachel, and a platoon of lawyers crowded into state district court Tuesday for the first of two days of hearings related to their pending and bitter divorce.

The first day of the hearing dealt with issues involving their two children. Michael Brown complained that he has not been able to see his children — an 8-year-old daughter and 5-year-old son — as often as he is legally allowed and asked that court-ordered supervision during visitation be ended.

The second day is expected to deal with property matters. Rachel Brown’s attorneys have complained that her husband is not disclosing all the assets that would be considered community property.

The lawyers for both sides have complained about each other, and at some point State District Judge Sheri Dean will address the growing enmity, though it appeared the motion for sanctions filed by two female lawyers against Rachel Brown’s main lawyer, David Brown, would not be considered until Wednesday. The female lawyers for Michael Brown said in their motion that David Brown, who is not related to either party, has consistently used demeaning sexual slurs in conversations about them and have asked the court to fine him and order him to stop.

Michael Brown testified that the presence of supervisors and armed security guards interferes with his visitation and intimidates the children.

“This is horrible for the kids,” he testified. “It confuses them. They don’t understand why all these people are around. Stop the supervision. It’s gone on long enough.”

Michael Brown was acquitted of felony assault last year in connection with a 2010 domestic quarrel at their home. Rachel Brown claimed she was struck by her husband during an angry and sudden outburst. Facing her again in court Tuesday, he claimed that she withheld visits and phone contact with their children, and he repeated assertions that she has a history of cocaine abuse and has often left their children in the care of nannies.

Rachel Brown on Tuesday testified that the court should not end supervision during visits between Michael and the children because of his temper.

“I believe Michael Brown is dangerous and unpredictable,” she said. “He goes into fits of rage at any given time. He had guns in front of them. He slapped me in front of them. He strangled me in front of them. I’m concerned for their safety because he doesn’t have control.”

She acknowledged a history of cocaine use but said that her husband supplied the drug. She said she stopped using drugs in 2009 and has not used them since.

Responding to questions from one of his attorneys, Rachel Brown also acknowledged her intimate relationship with former Houston Astros star Jeff Bagwell. She said they have taken a number of trips together and met in the Bahamas along with their children.

Rachel Brown also said she had showed her children their rooms in a new home that she intends to live in with Bagwell at a future unspecified date, and she confirmed an upcoming trip she planned to take with him and her children to Hawaii for a wedding.

Rachel Brown said she and Bagwell are in love and that she hopes they marry. She said he would be a positive influence for them.

She confirmed that she accompanied Bagwell when he recently left a rehabilitation facility where he was being treated for alcohol abuse before he completed the program.

mike.tolson@chron.com