The owner of a Dallas-area salon has been sentenced to seven days in jail and fined $7,000 for defying government orders by reopening her business.
In addition, Judge Eric Moye said that Shelley Luther would be fined an additional $500 a day if it remains opens.
Back on April 30th, Luther reopened Salon a la Mode, saying she needed to earn money to feed her family, pay her mortgage while the other stylists she employed were also depending on her.
Luther was cited by the City of Dallas and sent a cease-and-desist order from the judge. She refused to compile, arguing that it was her right to work.
Yesterday, Judge Moye ruled that Luther violated his order & found her in contempt.
Luther was taken into custody immediately after the hearing and booked into the Dallas County jail.
The moment of the hearing came when Judge Moye gave Luther an opportunity to apologize and promise not to reopen her salon until she was allowed to do so.He said she could avoid jail time if she apologized, admitted she was wrong & agreed to close the salon.
Luther told the judge:
“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 your decision, but I am not going to shut the salon.”
Luther’s attorney says they are appealing the decision.
So the politicians emptied the jails, letting out murder suspects, child molesters & felons in order to make room for small business owners who are trying to get back to work.
From Republican Rep. Chip Roy:
And Rep. Dan Crenshaw adds,