HOUSTON, Texas — Dr. Candice Matthews held a press conference Friday after a Harris County judge denied a protective order that had been sought against her by Jennifer Knighton, calling the ruling a victory and alleging the case was an attempt to weaponize the judicial system.
Speaking outside the Harris County Civil Courthouse, Dr. Matthews said the petition did not meet the legal requirements for a protective order and argued that such orders should be reserved for people facing legitimate threats or abuse.
Throughout the court proceedings, Houston Stringer repeatedly requested comment from Jennifer Knighton regarding the allegations and the protective order case. Knighton declined to comment on multiple occasions.
During the press conference, Dr. Matthews also addressed a separate criminal case involving Aisha Shahid. Dr. Matthews alleged Shahid, who she said is facing pending terroristic threat charges, appeared inside the courtroom despite conditions of her bond. Dr. Matthews said she and her attorney provided that information to the prosecutor handling Shahid’s case and are awaiting any action by the Harris County District Attorney’s Office. Those allegations have not been independently verified.
Dr. Matthews alleged the protective order was filed in retaliation for her public criticism of Judge Damiane Curvey and the 280th District Court. She questioned why the petition was initially approved, claiming it failed to meet the legal threshold required under Texas law. Judge Curvey has not publicly responded to those allegations.
According to Dr. Matthews’ attorney, Adjua Rochelle Umoja-Justice, the evidence presented during the hearing did not support granting a protective order. Umoja-Justice said Dr. Matthews had previously contacted the FBI after concerns were raised about Jennifer Knighton’s daughter when she was a minor, as many in the community believed she was either deceased or a victim of human trafficking in Mexico. Umoja-Justice said Dr. Matthews contacted the FBI again after seeing Knighton’s now-adult daughter at the courthouse to report she had confirmed she was alive. She added that questions remain about how Knighton’s daughter returned from Mexico to the United States. Those statements have not been independently confirmed by the FBI.
Umoja-Justice also criticized what she described as repeated protective order filings that lack sufficient legal evidence, arguing they consume court resources that could otherwise be used for individuals with legitimate safety concerns.
Dr. Matthews said she has two additional protective order hearings scheduled next week and intends to seek Judge Curvey’s recusal from those proceedings. She said she will continue pursuing the matters she raised during the press conference while awaiting any action from prosecutors.
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