HOUSTON – A Harris County judge dismissed a protective order case against Houston activist Dr. Candice Matthews after the applicant, Jazmine Perez, failed to appear for the hearing.

Perez, who filed the protective order application pro se, did not appear in court. According to Dr. Matthews’ attorney, Adjua Rochelle “Adjua Umoja-Justice” Umoja-Justice, the court dismissed the case after Perez failed to appear.

The case was heard in the 312th District Court after Susan Brown, presiding judge of the Eleventh Administrative Judicial Region, reassigned the matter to Judge Teresa J. Waldrop. The reassignment came after Harris County Judge Damiane “Dianne” Curvey declined to recuse herself from the case.

Although Perez did not appear, her mother, Jenifer Knighton, was present in the courtroom. Knighton has a separate protective order case pending against Dr. Matthews that is scheduled for a hearing on July 24. As she entered the courthouse before the hearing, Knighton declined to comment when asked by Houston Stringer.

Following the hearing, Dr. Matthews praised Judge Waldrop’s handling of the case, saying the judge was “fair” and “impartial.” Dr. Matthews also noted that Judge Waldrop kept a copy of the Texas Penal Code on the bench and referred directly to the law when necessary.

Umoja-Justice said she and her client were satisfied with the outcome and believe the remaining protective order case scheduled for July 24 will reach a similar result based on the law and the pleadings on file.

During remarks following the hearing, Umoja-Justice argued there was no legal basis for the protective order request against Dr. Matthews, saying her client does not threaten people and that the proceedings represented an unnecessary use of taxpayer resources. Umoja-Justice also criticized Judge Curvey’s handling of protective order cases and referenced previous efforts by Dr. Matthews to locate Jazmine Perez after concerns had been reported to the FBI. Umoja-Justice said those efforts ended after Dr. Matthews confirmed Perez was safe.

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