The top attorney in Texas called for the release of a jailed hair salon owner who reopened her shop despite state orders, and issued a blistering rebuke of a judge’s apparent political “stunt.”
Shelley Luther, the owner of Salon a la Mode, was arrested and sentenced to seven days in jail and fined for disobeying Gov. Greg Abbot’s stay-at-home order. The arrest drew national attention and stinging criticism for judicial overreach, perhaps best illustrated in Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s statement.
“The trial judge did not need to lock up Shelley Luther,” Paxton wrote, according to NBC DFW. “His order is a shameful abuse of judicial discretion, which seems like another political stunt in Dallas.”
Paxton called her sentencing “outrageous” considering that Dallas County “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.” Abbot agreed with Paxton that the judge in the case took “excessive action.”
Judge Eric Moye told Luther that she would not be given jail time as long as she admitted she was wrong. He told her that she must “take this opportunity to acknowledge that your actions were selfish putting your own interests ahead of those of the community in which you live.”
She responded, “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. 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.”
Moye’s office did not immediately respond to NBC DFW for comment.
The owner’s response went viral and a GoFundMe page was created that originally sought to raise $250,000. By Wednesday afternoon, $350,000 was raised.
"Of all horrible religions the most horrible is the worship of the god within." GK Chesterton
“These High-Tech oligarchs are dangerous for democracy.” Devin Nunes
"It’s a movement comprised of Americans from all races, religions, backgrounds and beliefs, who want and expect our government to serve the people, and serve the people it will." Donald Trump's Victory Speech 11/9/16
INSIDE EVERY LIBERAL IS A TOTALITARIAN SCREAMING TO GET OUT -- Frontpage mag
ZitatJudge Eric Moye told Luther that she would not be given jail time as long as she admitted she was wrong.
Grovel before me and I might forgive you, at least partially.
This ain't America.
I wonder if this trial judge Eric Moye first ran that statement by the Attorney General? I doubt it.
Texas Attorney General Paxton didn't seem to be either pleased or sympathetic to his earlier ruling.
"The trial judge did not need to lock up Shelley Luther,” he wrote. “His order is a shameful abuse of judicial discretion, which seems like another political stunt in Dallas.”
Gov Abbott was given a private audience today with President Trump. I'm sure they discussed this matter.
"Of all horrible religions the most horrible is the worship of the god within." GK Chesterton
“These High-Tech oligarchs are dangerous for democracy.” Devin Nunes
"It’s a movement comprised of Americans from all races, religions, backgrounds and beliefs, who want and expect our government to serve the people, and serve the people it will." Donald Trump's Victory Speech 11/9/16
INSIDE EVERY LIBERAL IS A TOTALITARIAN SCREAMING TO GET OUT -- Frontpage mag
Texas Supreme Court Orders Release of Jailed Hair Salon Owner
The Supreme Court of Texas ordered the release of Salon Á la Mode owner Shelley Luther Thursday morning. A Texas district court judge ordered her jailed for seven days earlier this week after declaring her to be in contempt of court regarding a Dallas County stay at home order that closed non-essential businesses.
Dallas Attorney Warren Norred filed a writ of habeas corpus on Luther’s behalf with the Texas Supreme Court on Wednesday. On Thursday, he announced on Twitter that the Supreme Court of Texas had ordered Shelley Luther to be released from the jail without bond pending the outcome of future proceedings.
Order from the Texas Supreme Court accepting Writ of Habeas Corpus to release #ShelleyLuther pic.twitter.com/S6toShMypU
— Norred Law (@NorredLaw) May 7, 2020
The release comes after Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton called the jailing of the Dallas hair salon owner by District Court Judge Eric Moyé a misguided “abuse” of power, Breitbart Texas reported Wednesday.