Gov. Abbott Intervenes in Shelley Luther Case

DB Daily Update ^ | David Blackmon

[EyesOfTX]

This is what leadership looks like.

I decided not to cover this earlier in hopes Governor Abbott would decide to intervene, and sure enough, he just did.

Most are aware that a Dallas-area salon owner named Shelley Luther was sentenced to a week in prison yesterday by an abusive Dallas judge, after she defied Abbott’s order that her business was “non-essential” and opened it up briefly last week. Police intervened, cited her and ordered her to appear in court.

During her hearing on Tuesday, the judge in the case, State District Court Judge Eric Moye, agreed with her that the Governor’s order was technically unsupported by existing law. However, in a fit of pique after Luther emotionally told the judge she would not shut her salon down because she was trying to feed her children, the liberal circus clown – who was initially appointed to the bench by Texas’s last Democrat Governor, Ann Richards, in 1993 – sentenced her to serve in a Dallas jail in which there have already been more than 200 cases of Wuhan Virus diagnosed.

That all happened late Tuesday afternoon, and I went to bed thinking that surely Governor Abbott would get involved here and act to reverse this idiotic decision, especially given the fact that, come 8:00 Friday morning, he is allowing salons like Luther’s to reopen all over the state.

Well, sure enough, at about 2:00 Wednesday, Governor Abbott issued this statement, which followed a previous statement issued by Attorney General Ken Paxton:

Image

Paxton had earlier sent a letter to Judge Moye demanding that Luther be released from jail. As of this writing on Wednesday afternoon, Moye had not yet acted. If he has not relented before the end of the day, millions of angry Texans will expect further intervention by Abbott and Paxton.

Hopefully, Governor Abbott has learned a key lesson here: That even in the Red state of Texas, there are plenty of Democrat despots sitting around just waiting for an opportunity to abuse the citizenry if you open the door for such abuse. It was Abbott’s order in March that opened that door. He should keep that reality in mind if we end up seeing a second round of this Chinese plague in the fall.

Stay Tuned.

That is all.

[humblegunner]

“Daily Update”?

This is your third blog post today.
Maybe you should call it something else.

Like perhaps “Every few hours update” or
“I’m gonna explain things to you rubes update”.

Possibly the “Look at me you dumb boneheads” update.

You need to get over yourself, zippy.

[mikeus_maximus]

He issued a statement. He didn’t “intervene” or pardon or anything. Just political window dressing.

[Magnum44]

There will be lessons and reminders in the hundreds of how something seemingly ‘for the people’ can be easily twisted into totalitarianism when basic freedoms are brought into question. This judge should be told to eff off, the cops who are arresting or citing citizens for exercising their freedom to make a living or even just to walk in a park should be told to eff off.

Govt on many levels needs to be neutered.

[Bratch]

Texas Governor and Attorney General Call For Immediate Release of Jailed Salon Owner Shelly Luther…

Posted on May 6, 2020 by sundance

Mrs. Shelly Luther probably did not expect to take this role, but the rebellious Texas salon owner has become the face of resistance to overbearing totalitarian dictates.

Mrs. Luther opened her salon in defiance of the economic shutdown that was causing financial ruin for her and her employees.

As a result Texas Judge Eric Moye sentenced her to a week in jail. Facing massive public outcry and support for Luther the Texas Attorney General and Governor are now asking Dallas County authorities to let her out of jail.

DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) – Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has called for the “immediate release” of a Dallas salon owner who was arrested and sent to jail for opening her business in defiance of Gov. Greg Abbott’s stay-at-home orders.

Paxton said he believes the judge is abusing his authority and that her arrest seems like a “political stunt.” In a full statement, Paxton said:

“I find it outrageous and out of touch that during this national pandemic, a judge, in a county that actually released hardened criminals for fear of contracting COVID-19, would jail a mother for operating her hair salon in an attempt to put food on her family’s table,” said Attorney General Paxton. “The trial judge did not need to lock up Shelley Luther. His order is a shameful abuse of judicial discretion, which seems like another political stunt in Dallas. He should release Ms. Luther immediately.”

[Governor] Abbott soon released a statement, saying he agrees with Paxton in asking for her release.

“I join the Attorney General in disagreeing with the excessive action by the Dallas Judge, putting Shelley Luther in jail for seven days. As I have made clear through prior pronouncements, jailing Texans for non-compliance with executive orders should always be the last available option. Compliance with executive orders during this pandemic is important to ensure public safety; however, surely there are less restrictive means to achieving that goal than jailing a Texas mother.”

A GoFundMe page that was set up for Luther has, so far, raised just over $280,000. The goal was originally $250,000 but it has since increased to $500,000.  (read more)

*The fund for Shelly Luther is now over $300,000 [See Here]

 

[Safetgiver]

If that IS her, WTF, she ain’t guilty of nothin’ and the Damned judge is blind or homo. Or both.

[etcb]

Many people, especially outside the State of Texas fail to understand the extremely limited power of the Texas Governor. He doesn’t have authority on his own to pardon or to otherwise release a person incarcerated by a judge. Voicing his displeasure and requesting the judge release her is all he can do.

[MayflowerMadam]

Seriously?!? This isn’t just a little thing to be “unhappy” about.

The woman actually WENT TO JAIL — a facility where there had been 200 known cases of WuFlu. If Abbott had acted minutes or hours after the ridiculous sentence she may not have been exposed. She’s been exposed, and she has kids at home.

She has been the face of defiance, and that’s something she and her children can be proud of forever. I love that!

(Personally, I’m not afraid of it, but I don’t have kids and she does.)

[MayflowerMadam]

“Over $332k now.”

That’s so great!

[sarge83]

He should have given her a full pardon.

[lurk]

This funding campaign not only covers her jail and court costs, she can build a new salon.

[mad_as_he$$]

No that is not her.

[mad_as_he$$]

No that is not her.

[Lurker]

He should have pardoned her instantly.

L

[ontap]

Last I checked her GOFUNDME page was $269,000

[fortheDeclaration]

Abbott is partially responsible with his unconstitutional opening of Texas in stages. He doesn’t decide what is and isn’t essential and nonessential.

[fortheDeclaration]

Agreed. Abbott is guilty of violating the Constitution and the judge is supporting him!

[j.havenfarm]

Agreed. He can pardon her or commute the sentence. That’s it. Very sloppy reporting including misleading headline

[Nomad577]

They are opening most of the hair etc places this Friday May 8th anyway, which is earlier than the originally slated May 18th that people were expecting. Whole thing seeems moot either way

All I’ve heard is griping from employees at these places having to go back and deal with customers and new guidelines, “risk their life” or lose their chair spot or unemployment all that stuff. Who knows

[Luke21]

Put the damn judge in jail.

[DesertRhino]

A strongly worded letter!

Tens of thousands of Texans need to surround that jail and demand her release. Too bad Crenshaw, Cruz, Abbott, or Paxton simply don’t have the balls to summon people to action.