DALLAS (KRLD 1080)- The calls are rolling in to release Shelly Luther from jail. She was booked for having opened her salon despite state recommendations to remain closed.
Luther, a Dallas salon owner, was sentenced to 7 days in jail and fined $7,000 for opening her salon, going against orders by the governor. Judge Eric Moye claimed that Luther's decision to reopen was "flagrant and intentional."
However, Governor Abbott has said himself that the sentence is excessive, while Attorney General Ken Paxton has asked that Luther be released from jail. Lt. Governor Dan Patrick has echoed these concerns.
"If she doesn't have the money, I'll step up and pay the $7,000 fine. And if there's been some money raised, I'll make the difference to get it to $7,000," Patrick said.
Meanwhile, SMU political scientist Cal Jillson thinks this particular circumstance has been building up for weeks. Luther attended a right-to-work rally, where she tore up a cease-and-desist order to close up shop.
"She's been moving around the community, stirring up this idea that people don't need to comply with these distancing rules and the coronavirus response," Jillson says.