The top law enforcement official in the state of Texas is calling for the woman sentenced to a week in jail for refusing to shut down her hair salon during the coronavirus pandemic to be released.
“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 Ken 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.”
Luther, who owns a salon in Dallas, was told by Judge Eric Moye that she “owe[s] an apology to the elected officials for whom you disrespected for flagrantly ignoring and, in one case, defiling their orders, which you now know obviously applies to you.”
Moye sentenced Luther to seven days in jail and ordered she pay a $500 fine for each day she operated her business in violation of the shutdown order from Gov. Greg Abbott, which expires for salons on Friday.
“As I have made clear through prior pronouncements, jailing Texans for non-compliance with executive orders should always be the last available option,” Abbott said in a statement. “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.”
The county jail where Luther is being held has had 248 inmates test positive for the coronavirus, according to the Dallas Morning News.
Luther told the judge this week she was not trying to make a political statement by keeping her business open but was trying to provide for her family during a rough time.
“Judge, I would like to say that I have much respect for this court and laws, and that I’ve never been in this position before, and it’s not someplace that I want to be, but I have to disagree with you, sir, when you say that I’m selfish,” she said. “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 your decision, but I’m not going to shut the salon.”
[Read more: ‘Drunk with power’: Dan Crenshaw rips Texas judge who sentenced salon owner to week in jail for violating shutdown order]
