GRETNA, LA. — A Louisiana judge annulled a permanent protective order entered against Dr. Matthews following a hearing at the 24th Judicial District Court.

According to Dr. Matthews’ attorney, Kamal Packer, the case involved a petition for protection from stalking filed by Belle Chasse Middle School teacher Allison Edwards. Packer said the court previously entered a permanent protective order instead of a temporary restraining order.

Packer argued that Dr. Matthews was not provided the 30-day delay granted under Louisiana law before a hearing could be held. He said Judge Donald A. “Donnie” Rowan Jr. agreed with the legal team’s arguments and granted its motion to annul the permanent protective order.

“We presented it to the court, and the judge took everything that we said, and he agreed with our arguments,” Packer said after the hearing.

The attorney’s statement did not indicate that the underlying petition had been dismissed. A signed court order was not immediately available for review.

Dr. Matthews said she agreed not to disclose verbatim statements made inside the courtroom. She also referenced five protective-order cases previously filed against her in Texas, all of which she said were unsuccessful.

The Louisiana proceeding followed a complaint Dr. Matthews previously filed with the Plaquemines Parish School District concerning Edwards’ public social media activity. Dr. Matthews alleged Edwards commented on and amplified a Facebook post containing false and defamatory claims about her, her late husband and her family.

Edwards declined to comment when Houston Stringer asked her about her online activity.

The school district previously confirmed that it received the complaint and said the concerns would be reviewed and investigated under district policies and procedures. The district said it could not discuss personnel matters or any potential investigation.

Following the hearing, Dr. Matthews issued a public statement praising Rowan’s handling of the proceedings. Rowan presides over Division L of the 24th Judicial District Court in Jefferson Parish.

“Based on what I personally witnessed in his courtroom, Judge Rowan handled the proceedings in a manner that I viewed as fair, professional, and grounded in the law,” Dr. Matthews said. “I saw a judge who appeared focused on the evidence and the legal issues before him, not personalities, politics or outside noise.”

Dr. Matthews also noted that Rowan is identified as a Republican but said her assessment was not based on his political affiliation.

“Republican, Democrat or independent, when I believe a judge gets it right, I will say so,” Dr. Matthews said. “When I believe something deserves scrutiny, I will say that too.”

She added that justice should not be based on political affiliation and thanked Rowan for what she described as judicial professionalism.