Texas businesses hoping to reopen their shuttered storefronts might be in for a rude and costly awakening.
Dallas hair salon owner Shelley Luther was sentenced to seven days in prison and charged with thousands of dollars in penalties on Tuesday after she decided to open her business amid an executive order from Republican Gov. Greg Abbott to remain closed.
Judge Eric Moye lashed out at Luther, accusing her of placing her ideas of liberty and freedom above the welfare of the Texan people.
"That you now see the error of your ways and understand that the society cannot function when one's own belief in a concept of liberty permits you to flaunt your disdain for the rulings of duly elected officials," Moye said. "That you owe 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."
Judge Eric Moyé asked Luther if she would make a statement admitting she was wrong and selfish. Listen here... pic.twitter.com/6JMukC3v76
— Andrea Lucia (@CBS11Andrea) May 5, 2020
Luther, who is the owner of Salon A la Mode and Hot Mess Enterprises, was then given an opportunity to respond.
"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," said Luther. "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."
The judge told Shelley Luther she
— Andrea Lucia (@CBS11Andrea) May 5, 2020
could avoid jail time if she apologized, admitted she was wrong, and agreed to close her hair salon until it was allowed to open.
This is her response...@CBSDFW pic.twitter.com/1phdNUsLme
Moye said Luther should have hired a lawyer if she wanted to challenge the governor's executive order to lock down, which expires for salons this Friday.
Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins added that he would consider lightening Luther's sentence if she admitted her actions were wrong. Luther, who joined hundreds of anti-lockdown protesters in April, ripped up a court order instructing her to keep her business closed.
Luther will be fined $500 for every day the salon was open last week and another $500 for every day she keeps it open before the state's executive order against nonessential businesses is lifted.















