A Dallas salon owner will spend a week in jail that has 248 inmates with coronavirus. She’s also being fined $7,000 and another $500 a day despite the fact that Governor Abbott announced shortly before she opened that salons and barbershops could open.
She opened in violation of contempt of court order Tuesday so the judge found against her.
The owner Shelley Luther was taken into custody immediately as if she was a common criminal.
Ms. Luther put all social distancing guidelines in place with 6 feet between stations, hand sanitizing stations are in place, and everyone has masks.
She explained that she couldn’t feed her family and her employees couldn’t either but the judge didn’t care.
In a hearing broadcast live on YouTube on Tuesday, Luther said she had no choice but to open her business.
She said she hadn’t earned income since the county’s stay-at-home order was set in March. She applied for one of the federal loans aimed at helping small businesses but didn’t receive it until Sunday, she testified.
SHE COULDN’T FEED HER FAMILY
“I couldn’t feed my family, and my stylists couldn’t feed their families,” Luther testified, holding a phone to her face from the witness stand so the court reporter could hear her through a mask.
Before issuing his ruling, Judge Moyé gave Luther an opportunity to apologize and promise not to reopen her salon until she was allowed to do so, saying he would consider levying only a fine “in lieu of the incarceration which you’ve demonstrated that you have so clearly earned.”
Luther, however, defended her actions to the very end.
“Feeding my kids is not selfish,” she told Moyé. “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.”
Minutes earlier, Gov. Greg Abbott had announced during a news conference that barbershops and salons across Texas could reopen Friday.
These edicts from the mini-dictators are not laws. The judge did not have to put her in prison or fine her. The judge must be a Democrat, the caring party.
Senator Cruz weighed in:
7 days in jail for cutting hair?? This is NUTS. And government officials don’t get to order citizens to apologize to them for daring to earn a living. https://t.co/3rulRlN0gE
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) May 6, 2020
Just reading some of the comments in the Ted Cruz twitter feed (and quite frankly almost all the other feeds I have seen recently) is extremely disturbing. So many sheep have been conditioned to accept complete control of their lives by the government.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z6bC9w9cH-M
Greg, have you ever sued anybody, or better yet, have you ever sued anybody in the Judiciary? I’m quite certain the answer to that would be no because if you had, you would understand the futility of your comments. You certainly are entitled to your opinion and while holding the court accountable in a lawsuit sounds good on the surface oh, it really has no practicality. In other words, even if you filed the criminal complaint I would wager the district attorney wouldn’t even review it because it would be thrown into the trash as soon as she read the heading. The bottom line is none of those who are considered officers of the Courts shit where they eat. You can file till the cows come home but you would be doing it on your own.
The point still is: What’s the alternative. And yes, there have been plenty of lawsuits where awards have been granted. And this case could qualify for damages. What the hell, is this woman suppose to sit in jail and do nothing. That’s what some of the comments seem to be suggesting. All too often we find more people bitching about situations rather than getting up and doing something. How many have organized and went to protests. Only when it’s large enough is there notice taken.
By the way, this would be a Federal Civil case, not criminal. In this case the judge is elected. Start there.
Greg the Lawyer,
Yep. You are a lawyer. A statist to boot.
Your continuous reference for me of Waco and other .gov murders, of American Citizens, is simply your attempt to discredit any effort to rein in the corruption of the scum of government.
You like to ignore that which challenges your abysmal rhetoric. Did not a organized militia stand before the professional army of King George III “….and fired the shot around the world.”
You love the power of the scum we call government. Your attempt to ridicule my comments regarding the defense of what is left of Liberty in the fUSA, is so Alinsky-like.
So tell me Mister Attorney….are your wearing your mask per the illegal, unconstitutional diktats of government tyrants ? Oh, and how well does your mask wear while clutching your ankles at the same time ?
Reminder for you: How much money in your county/parish, per hour, does a Citizen servant have to pay an “officer of the court” to represent him/her against the scum of government ?
You lawyers love those lawsuits where you financially rape your client. A client who still thinks the “law” is fair and there is a justice system in Amerika today.
Shakespeare was spot on !
ERWACHE
Geez, you’re an idiot jerk. It’s the difference between someone who would fight the government legitimately, or one who thinks they live in the 1700’s. You’re such a big man, go, take your lead and go after that judge. Put your lead where your mouth is.
What the hell do you think the point of Waco was. These cases weren’t even ones who were taking up arms in combat. I ask about an alternatives and you have none but simplistic rhetoric. You are among the ones who want to complain day by day and Do nothing. What Have You Done. Obviously nothing. I DID stand on the capital grounds Against a Democrat Governor, AND, by the way, without a mask. I confronted the media who quickly ran away. I say, What Have YOU done in all this, but complain, woe is me (us). Get off your lazy tuchus and do something. Maybe you can do Your version of “shot heard round the world”.
Greg the Lawyer,
I do not have to tell you what I have done to oppose the scum of government. One extensive effort I made I explained here. Of course, you ignore this.
Making your disparaging remark against the men who stood on Lexington Green on 19 April 1775 is indicative of your disregards for the history that birthed this once, great nation.
In typical statist fashion you challenge me to do alone what dozens of organized and brave men did more than two centuries ago.
It is time for the common, American Citizen to remove the tyranneous villians of the scum one calls “government”. A call to arms to defend Freedom requires collective involvement of many, if not all Citizens. One man is a “criminal”. Many men standing against the tyranny of government is a movement !
BTW….what is that hourly rate your beloved lawyers charge to fight tyranny. I asked you three times now….you continue to ignore my question. Not surprised. You ignore American history and the actions creating this nation with ridicule. Saul Alinsky would be proud of you !
Hemp and Lead.
ERWACHE
You STILL are unable to comprehend the point of the comparison to the Revolution. I don’t know if I can put it in simplest enough terms for you to understand, but here goes. At that time the sides were fairly equal in arms, And, as a result they were able to succeed. Considering the amount and type of weapons the police and Government have on had how will the citizenry have any chance against them. But YOU want to talk about lead. It was YOU who said that as an option. If you STILL can’t understand, Don’t bring up using lead as an option. Why even make the comment if you aren’t willing. To sound like a tough guy?
Obviously you must be new here or you would have known how my opinions reflect my outlook. As I said, and described, what are YOU doing. Blathering on a website. Get involved. Maybe run for office. Sonny Bono was fed up and did something. He ran and won. Trump has appointed many new judges and with another four years he could reshape the entire country.
In your case maybe doing some research would have saved you many headaches. To hire a lawyer, by the hour, for a First Amendment case is not a wise course, unless you are wealthy and can afford to lose it all. If it’s worthwhile, there are Pro Bono lawyers who may possibly take it. But you are upset because you made a bad decision. It’s not unusual to have jury verdicts be overturned. The high profile cases with large awards are seldom upheld.
Greg, I was replying to your comment about filing a lawsuit and expecting a judge to ultimately be held criminally responsible. That happens only on the rarest of occasions. Regardless of your disagreements with Dan III, I happen to know this man and he did put his money where his mouth is challenging the powers that be only to have a jury decision overturned buy an activist federal judge. He put his money where his mouth is to the tune of tens of thousands of dollars and got horse f*cked which is more than I can say for the majority of activists who may protest in a Public Square with others. Have a go at it alone like he has and like I have. You will then understand his hemp and Lead comment…
It would be a civil matter in Federal Court. I posted the “Color of Law” violation only because it’s interesting in the scope of the circumstances. There are countless cases that have benefited individuals. Just because a certain individual didn’t succeed doesn’t mean it works for No One. One admiral lawyer right now is Sydney Powell, or the lawyers at Judicial Watch. Do we want to end the careers of these people.
DAN III:
Are you really That friggin’ ignorant. You assume, Again, I “support” the use of MRAP’s. The point IS, try going against one, or more than one. You heard few Republicans complain about the use of those in Ferguson.
Pay Attention!. Noticed I spoke about “equally armed”. The citizens are NOT equally armed today.
And NO, you Don’t know me. You “assume” to know me. Your ONLY recourse is evidently some type of armed conflict. Right, that will go well. Do you want to take your place in history alongside Waco and Ruby Ridge. I’m sure it can and will be obliged. And then you can be hailed by others as yourself for standing up “to the man”.
How many Republicans stood up for the black community when police overstep their bounds. Damn few. How was the reaction to Ferguson. I never saw any stories in this country how the public were cited for such minor things and when they couldn’t afford to pay it was increased penalties and jail. It’s one small thing among many that leaves me despising both parties. You have NO idea how much of a rebel I may be. The point is, in this case, maybe it’s possible for someone to get justice. But I’m not so stupid to go shoot up the place, or declare I may do so. A lengthy jail term or death penalty solves nothing. In these times that is one good way to be prohibited forever from owning Any fireman. There IS such a thing as common sense. Use It.
Titus,
I filed 13 years ago, a 1st Amendment lawsuit against county government for violation of my Freedom of Speech, per your citation. After three long years and tens of thousands of borrowed dollars, I had my two days in federal court. The jury ruled for me and against the county 8-0. Unanimous ! I thought I had won.
Guess what ? The county appealed to the federal magistrate who conducted the trial. The black-robed tyrant THREW THE JURY VERDICT OUT !
More thousands of dollars and time, I appealed to the 3rd Circuit. They ruled 2-1 against me and supporting the scum of government !
Lesson learned. The law does not apply equally between Citizen and the ruling elites, TPTB. Law is long dead in the USA. Just as the CONstitution is long dead. Sad. Pitiful. The “law” means nothing to those in the seat of power….government scum at all levels ! They do as they please.
Hemp and Lead.
“Lesson learned:” That much is true and any case solely on the First Amendment is difficult at best. When it comes to deprivation of “property” that is another matter, since it is governed by Statute. This is where Federal Rules of Civil Procedure come into play where a “claim for damages” can be easier.