Posted on 05/06/2020 11:23:01 AM PDT by Impala64ssa
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has called for the “immediate release” of a Dallas salon owner who was arrested and sent to jail for opening her business in defiance of Gov. Greg Abbott’s stay-at-home orders.
Shelley Luther, owner of Salon A La Mode, was sentenced to seven days in jail Tuesday after Dallas judge Eric Moye said she violated those orders as the coronavirus pandemic continues.
Paxton said he believes the judge is abusing his authority and that her arrest seems like a “political stunt.” In a full statement, Paxton said:
“I find it outrageous and out of touch that during this national pandemic, a judge, in a county that actually released hardened criminals for fear of contracting COVID-19, would jail a mother for operating her hair salon in an attempt to put food on her family’s table,” said Attorney General Paxton. “The trial judge did not need to lock up Shelley Luther. His order is a shameful abuse of judicial discretion, which seems like another political stunt in Dallas. He should release Ms. Luther immediately.”
The attorney general sent a letter to Moye, saying her sentencing was “significantly overboard.” He mentioned that Abbott’s new executive order will allow her to operate business starting on Friday.
The new order that Abbott announced earlier this week allows for more businesses like salons and barber shops to reopen their doors on Friday, May 8. This comes a week after nonessential businesses like retail stores and restaurants were allowed to reopen in Texas at a 25% capacity.
Paxton said jailing Luther for seven days, which overlaps with her being able to operate her business, is “unjustifiable.”
Abbott also released a statement, saying he agrees with Paxton in asking for her release.
“I join the Attorney General in disagreeing with the excessive action by the Dallas Judge, putting Shelley Luther in jail for seven days. As I have made clear through prior pronouncements, jailing Texans for non-compliance with executive orders should always be the last available option. Compliance with executive orders during this pandemic is important to ensure public safety; however, surely there are less restrictive means to achieving that goal than jailing a Texas mother.”
Luther received a cease-and-desist letter last week from Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins to close her salon, but she publicly ripped it up.
Luther and her salon were also fined $500 for each day it was open, which was seven in total as of Tuesday. Moye said her salon would continue to be fined every day it was open until the new order would allow it to reopen on Friday.
During her appearance in court Tuesday, Moye and Luther made statements to one another.
“If you would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge that your own actions were selfish, putting your own interest ahead of those in the community in which you live,” Moye said, offering her a chance to avoid jail time. He said he would consider only giving her a fine, if she apologized, acknowledged she was wrong, and agreed to keep her business closed until Friday, when the governor has announced all salons may open.
“I have much respect for this court and laws. I have never been in this position before and it’s not someplace that I want to be,” Luther responded. “But I have to disagree with you sir, when you say that I’m selfish because feeding my kids — is not selfish. I have hair stylists that are going hungry because they’d rather feed their kids. So sir, if you think the law is more important than kids getting fed, then please go ahead with you decision but I am not going to shut the salon.”
Luther’s attorney, Warren Norred, said they would appeal the judge’s decision.
Please do.
She deserves an apology from the judge, and the judge deserves removing from the bench.
Can’t state AG’s override local DA’s and the like?
Get really tough!
Order the arrest of the Judge.
Hear! Hear!!
No one should be surprised about this. If the Dems steal the WH and Senate, things like this will be common.
If it comes out of Dallas, you can be sure it is run by ultra-liberals. In distant decades though Dallas County was arguably the most Republican of TX counties.
I wish in times like these that he governor had pardon power, but he does not in TX.
better call saul..have a ton of people write letters to the judge,,
States are letting rapists out of jail, and Texas is worried about a lousy hair stylist? I never thought I’d live long enough to see the day this country would totally go down the tubes, but it’s happened in the past 3 months.
I just watched this 26 minute video (and downloaded/saved it). Ran Dr. Mikovits thru Wikipedia and found the expected HATCHET JOB on her. There are FORTUNES and SOCIALIST/TYRANNICAL AGENDAS at stake here. You suppose that JUST MIGHT motivate those involved to pull out ALL the stops to keep their CRIMINAL AGENDA ON SCHEDULE? YOU BETCHA!
The good news is that BITCHUTE will almost certainly NOT pull this video (unless threatened by the powers-that-be).
If you, as do I, HATE to WAIT, go to BRIGHTEON.COM and search “PLANdemic”. There are over 160 postings there. WOW!
Looks like America MAY be starting to GET IT (and I don’t mean a vaccination!).
This video was taken down by You Tube and it was re-posted to Bit Chute. I encourage you to watch it before it may be taken down there.
https://www.bitchute.com/video/xvD0eYUraZkq/
And then tell him he can avoid jail time if he confesses.
I PRAY she SUES!
Abbott should tell the jail to release her, no need to pardon her just let her go.
A simultaneous removal of the judge would be fair.
I don’t know, but I understand that Texas judges have a lot of power.
The judge failed to uphold The Constitution and should be removed from the bench.
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