DALLAS, TX – A Dallas salon owner who was arrested for opening her place of business during the state’s stay-at-home order which shut down non-essential businesses had to stand before Judge Eric Moye via video conference this week. Shelly Luther said financial desperation is what motivated her to defy the court’s cease and desist order which led to her arrest on Friday. Judge Moye ordered Jenkins to pay a $500 fine for each of the 7 days she opened her salon and she was charged for criminal and civil contempt of court, calling her selfish and demanding that she owed city officials an apology. Luther disagreed with the judge after learning she will be sentenced to 7 days in jail.
“I have much respect for this court and laws,” Luther replied to Moye. “I have never been in this position before and it’s not someplace that I want to be. But I have to disagree with you sir, when you say that I’m selfish because feeding my kids — is not selfish. I have hair stylists that are going hungry because they’d rather feed their kids. So sir, if you think the law is more important than kids getting fed, then please go ahead with your decision but I’m not going to shut the salon.”
Barbershops and salons will be allowed to reopen in Texas on May 8th. Luther’s total fines were $7,000.
Luther’s husband, Tim Georgeff said during the hearing, the judge appeared angry over Governor Abbott’s decision to reopen barber shops this week and used the opportunity to make an example out of her.
“It was not a fair trial,” Georgeff said. “The judge had made up his mind before it started and didn’t give her lawyer a chance to speak.”
During the trial, Abbot held a press conference and opened salons ten days earlier than his original estimate.
“He was very aggravated by the fact that Governor Abbott made that decision,” he said. “He wanted to belittle Shelly, he had a lack of tact and judicial temperament and that if she admitted she was a selfish, horrible person who just wanted to make some extra money.”
