Dr. Matthews sits down with Marcus Willis about his federal appeal and alleged due process violations

BEDFORD, TX — Civil rights activist, advocate, and author Dr. Matthews sat down with Marcus Willis to discuss his ongoing federal appeal and what he alleges were due process violations during years of litigation involving a police officer, a police department, and the federal court system.

Willis said his legal dispute began about three years ago when he filed a case against a police department. While that case was ongoing, he alleged he had another encounter with the same officer, who removed him from his vehicle and placed him in handcuffs during a traffic stop.

According to Willis, he later filed a Rule 27(a) motion seeking review of what he characterized as retaliation and excessive force. He alleged the filing was improperly handled by a court clerk and entered as a letter rather than a motion, preventing judicial review of the matter.

During the interview, Willis reviewed multiple federal court filings, including joint status reports, supplemental filings, motions to dismiss and court orders. He argued that his case was moving through the discovery process before it was ultimately dismissed with prejudice.

Willis questioned why the court ordered the parties to submit a joint status report and proposed discovery plan if the case would later be dismissed before discovery could proceed. He also pointed to supplemental filings concerning municipal liability and questions regarding the departure of a police official.

According to Willis, he appealed the dismissal to the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. He said the appellate process included notices of appeal, motions and petitions for rehearing.

Dr. Matthews reviewed portions of the court record during the interview and said an independent legal audit commissioned by her team identified what it described as due process concerns and judicial failures. According to Dr. Matthews, the audit concluded that procedural actions within the case hindered Willis' ability to fully pursue his claims as a self-represented litigant.

Willis maintained that procedural decisions by court officials and clerks prevented his filings from receiving proper consideration. He said he continues to seek accountability through the courts and believes significant issues raised in his motions were never addressed.

At the conclusion of the discussion, Dr. Matthews called on civil rights attorneys and pro bono legal organizations to review the case and consider assisting Willis in his ongoing legal efforts.

The full interview is scheduled to be released next week.