The Texas Supreme Court on Thursday ordered the release of a Dallas salon owner who was jailed for defying a statewide stay-at-home order.
The temporary ruling came shortly after Republican Gov. Greg Abbott amended his executive order on the closures to prevent confinement as a possible enforcement.
“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,” Abbott said in a statement.
The salon owner, Shelley Luther, was sentenced on Tuesday to a week in jail and fined $7,000. She refused to comply with a cease and desist order and has been championed by some conservatives who say their rights and livelihoods were infringed under the emergency restrictions.
On Wednesday, several prominent Republicans came to Luther’s defense, including U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, state Attorney General Ken Paxton and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who offered to pay Luther’s fine and serve her sentence himself, under house arrest.
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