Update at 2:00pm:
North Dallas salon owner Shelley Luther has been released from the Dallas County Jail. Her release came just hours after the Texas Supreme Court ordered her release. The Court’s actions came the same day Governor Greg Abbott modified his executive order to eliminate confinement as a punishment for violating orders.
AUSTIN (WBAP/KLIF)-Governor Greg Abbott modified his executive orders related to COVID-19 to eliminate confinement as a punishment for violating these orders. These modifications are being applied retroactively.
“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,” said Governor Abbott. “That is why I am modifying my executive orders to ensure confinement is not a punishment for violating an order. This order is retroactive to April 2nd, supersedes local orders and if correctly applied should free Shelley Luther. It may also ensure that other Texans like Ana Isabel Castro-Garcia and Brenda Stephanie Mata who were arrested in Laredo, should not be subject to confinement. As some county judges advocate for releasing hardened criminals from jail to prevent the spread of COVID-19, it is absurd to have these business owners take their place.”
This order comes after a Dallas judge ordered a salon owner to 7 days in jail for opening her salon amid state coronavirus restrictions.
