'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,' the governor said in a statement.
After intervention by Texas Governor Greg Abbott, state Attorney General Ken Paxton and a ruling by the Texas Supreme Court, Shelley Luther, the salon owner jailed for violating the state's stay-at-home order has been freed from her seven-day jail sentence.
Luther was found guilty on Tuesday of civil and criminal contempt of court for continuing to operate her business, Salon Á la Mode in North Texas, despite a restraining order telling her to observe Abbott's executive order shutting down al nonessential businesses during the coronavirus epidemic. After Luther was taken into custody on Wednesday, Paxton and Abbott both publicly criticized Dallas Judge Eric Moyé's sentencing Luther to seven days in jail.On Thursday, Abbott rewrote his executive order to eliminate confinement as a punishment for violating the order.
"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 in a statement."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."
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