Federal judge tosses barber’s lawsuit against Mayor, Reeves

A federal judge has dismissed a Madison barber's lawsuit challenging the governor's order closing salons and barber shops across the state.

Earlier this month, barber Mike Land opened his shop in defiance of Gov. Tate Reeves' "Safer at Home" executive order. He filed a federal lawsuit iagainst Reeves and Madison Mayor Mary Hawkins-Butler in their official capacities as elected officials.

Land opened his Madison-based salon Family Barber shop on Monday, April 27 in defiance of Reeves' order. He shut down two days later under threat of fines or even jail time for he and his employees in a letter from Hawkins-Butler that was delivered by Madison Police Chief Gene Waldrop.

Land argued in his May 3 filing that the order was unconstitutional, that Reeves lacked the authority to close the state's businesses and that Hawkins-Butler, in her capacity as Mayor of Madison, lacked the authority to enforce it. His lawsuit sought to block enforcement of the executive order.

U.S. District Court Judge Carlton Reeves dismissed the lawsuit Monday without prejudice after all parties agreed the lawsuit was moot due to Reeves' subsequent decision to the allow the state's salons and barbershops to reopen.