Texas Supreme Court Frees Jailed Texas Salon Owner As Gov Abbott Eliminates Jail For Violating Stay-at-Home Order

The Texas Supreme Court today ordered the release of Dallas salon owner Shelley Luther, who was jailed for defying a statewide stay-at-home order after a public outcry against the initial ruling.

The temporary ruling came shortly after Governor Abbott amended his executive order on the closures to prevent confinement as possible enforcement. It had previously threatened violators with up to 180 days in jail.

Abbott said that “throwing Texans in jail” for being business owners “shut down through no fault of their own is wrong.” He continued by saying that he was “eliminating jail for violating an order, retroactive to April 2.”

Throwing Texans in jail whose biz’s shut down through no fault of their own is wrong. I am eliminating jail for violating an order, retroactive to April 2, superseding local orders. Criminals shouldn’t be released to prevent COVID-19 just to put business owners in their place.

Throwing Texans in jail whose biz's shut down through no fault of their own is wrong.

I am eliminating jail for violating an order, retroactive to April 2, superseding local orders.

Criminals shouldn’t be released to prevent COVID-19 just to put business owners in their place.

— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) May 7, 2020

Abbott joined Fox News last night on Sean Hannity’s show and told Hannity that “There is [a balance that needs to be struck], Sean, and that is why we are now in Texas opening up things like hair salons and barbershops. But Sean, you need to know this: The problem that we’re dealing with is far worse than what you’ve articulated in Dallas County.”

No one should forfeit their liberty and be sent to jail for not wearing a mask. I’ll make further announcements about this and related issues in the morning. #txlege

No one should forfeit their liberty and be sent to jail for not wearing a mask.

I’ll make further announcements about this and related issues in the morning. #txlegehttps://t.co/1Ff8cXbdV0

— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) May 7, 2020