Texas Supreme Court orders release of jailed salon owner Shelley Luther

Salon owner Shelley Luther adjusts her hair while listening to a question after she was cited by City of Dallas officials for reopening her Salon A la Mode in Dallas, Friday, April 24, 2020. Hair salons have not been cleared for reopening in Texas. Luther was asked by officials to close and was issued a citation when she refused. Luther said she will remain open for business.
Salon owner Shelley Luther adjusts her hair while listening to a question after she was cited by City of Dallas officials for reopening her Salon A la Mode in Dallas, Friday, April 24, 2020. Hair salons have not been cleared for reopening in Texas. Luther was asked by officials to close and was issued a citation when she refused. Luther said she will remain open for business.(LM Otero/AP)

The Supreme Court of Texas ordered the release of Dallas salon owner Shelley Luther two days after she was jailed for violating the state’s stay-at-home order during the coronavirus pandemic.

Luther was jailed Tuesday after refusing to close her business, Salon À la Mode, which she illegally reopened despite being declared a nonessential business during the virus’ outbreak. A Dallas judge found her in contempt of court for violating a restraining order which barred her from reopening.

Luther has repeatedly claimed she reopened her business in order for her and her stylists to be able to feed their families.

Both Texas governor Greg Abbott and attorney general Ken Paxton had voiced their support for Luther being released. Abbott went so far as to modify his stay-at-home order to eliminate arrest and jail time as a penalty. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick also offered to pay Luther’s $7,000 worth of fines.

Paxton approved of the supreme court’s decision to free Luther.

“The Texas Supreme Court correctly addressed Ms. Luther’s excessive punishment and unnecessary jailing," the attorney general said. "No Texan should face imprisonment for peacefully resisting an order that temporarily closed a lawful business and drastically limited their ability to provide for their family through no fault of their own.”

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