Supreme Court Of Texas Orders Release Of Jailed Texas Stylist Shelly Luther
AUSTIN (CBSDFW.COM) - The Supreme Court of Texas has ordered the release of Dallas salon owner, Shelly Luther, who was jailed for violating executive stay at home orders during the COVID-19 pandemic.
She's currently in isolation and protective custody at the Lew Sterrett Justice Center in Dallas.
The jail is expected to release her Thursday afternoon.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott modified his executive orders and eliminated confinement as a punishment for violating the mandates.
Both Abbott and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton voiced support for Luther on Wednesday.
Paxton also commended the Supreme Court's decision, saying "The Texas Supreme Court correctly addressed Ms. Luther's excessive punishment and unnecessary jailing. 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."
State District Judge Eric Moyé sentenced Luther to seven days in jail earlier this week on contempt of court charges for disobeying a judge's temporary restraining order prohibiting her from operating her salon.
"Throwing Texans in jail who have had their businesses shut down through no fault of their own is nonsensical, and I will not allow it to happen," Abbott said a day after his ruling.
Now at the center of a national debate, Luther has garnered the support from "Open Texas" and other free speech advocates. The organizer of one of those groups set up a GoFundMe page, which has raised more than $500,000.
