Robert Roberson’s Execution Case Heads to Texas Court
A Texas court will soon weigh whether to schedule an execution for Robert Roberson, a death row inmate convicted of murdering his daughter in a controversial shaken baby case.
The hearing is set for 10 a.m. Wednesday in the 3rd District Court in Palestine. The attorney general’s office has asked for Roberson’s execution date to be set for Oct. 16.
The Case Against Robert Roberson
Roberson’s case has attracted national attention due to its reliance on what many criminal experts now consider to be junk science. The lead detective in the case has said Roberson is innocent and more than 100 state lawmakers called for clemency in his case.
“With a habeas petition pending in the [Texas Court of Criminal Appeals] and a mountain of evidence proving Robert Roberson’s innocence that has yet to be considered, the request for an execution date in this case makes little legal or moral sense,” Gretchen Sween, a Roberson attorney, said in an emailed statement on Friday.
Breaking News and Developments
Breaking News
The writ before the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals calls for the state’s highest criminal court to halt the execution to review new statements and evidence in the 2002 death of Roberson’s 2-year-old daughter, Nikki.
Questions Surrounding the Attorney General’s Office
Sween also questioned why the attorney general’s office was seeking an execution date. Typically, execution dates are requested from the local district attorney’s offices that oversaw the prosecution of capital cases.
“We look forward to presenting our arguments to the court opposing the request, made by the AG’s Office, which only recently and inexplicably acted to take over representing the State in this matter, which has been handled by the elected District Attorney of Anderson County since 2016,” Sween said.
Attorney General Ken Paxton’s office did not immediately return a message seeking comment.
Previous Attempts to Thwart the Execution
Roberson’s execution was narrowly thwarted in 2024 after state lawmakers, including Allen Republican Rep. Jeff Leach, intervened by issuing a subpoena for Roberson to testify in a committee hearing that revolved around his case.
That hearing included testimony from TV personality Dr. Phil McGraw and best-selling novelist John Grisham. Roberson did not testify after the attorney general’s office fought an attempt by the Texas Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence to bring him to the Capitol to testify in person.
Conclusion
The case of Robert Roberson is a complex and controversial one, with many experts and lawmakers questioning the validity of the evidence used to convict him. As the court prepares to weigh whether to schedule an execution, it is essential to consider the new evidence and statements that have come to light, and to ensure that justice is served.
FAQs
Q: What is the current status of Robert Roberson’s case?
A: Robert Roberson is currently on death row, and the attorney general’s office has requested that his execution be scheduled for Oct. 16.
Q: What is the controversy surrounding Roberson’s case?
A: The controversy surrounds the use of what many experts consider to be junk science in the conviction of Robert Roberson. The lead detective in the case has also stated that Roberson is innocent.
Q: What is the role of the attorney general’s office in the case?
A: The attorney general’s office has taken over representing the state in the case, despite the local district attorney’s office having handled it since 2016. The office has requested that Roberson’s execution be scheduled.
Q: What is the significance of the writ before the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals?
A: The writ calls for the state’s highest criminal court to halt the execution and review new statements and evidence in the 2002 death of Roberson’s 2-year-old daughter, Nikki.
