Texas lawmakers are preparing to hear testimony from Robert Roberson III today, a death row inmate whose execution was recently halted.
Roberson was scheduled for execution in Texas on October 17 for the 2002 death of his 2-year-old daughter, Nikki Curtis.
However, Travis County Judge Jessica Mangrum issued a temporary restraining order blocking the execution of Roberson on the day of his scheduled execution, as reported by The Dallas Express.
Roberson’s case has drawn significant attention due to claims of wrongful conviction and the involvement of “junk science” in his trial.
Roberson was convicted based on allegations of shaken baby syndrome resulting in “severe trauma to the head” of his baby daughter, according to prison records. His advocates and defense team continue to argue that the evidence against him is flawed, asserting that other medical issues, including severe pneumonia and adverse reactions to medications, could have caused Nikki’s death.
The Texas House Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence issued a subpoena for Roberson to testify, leading to a partial stay of execution from the Texas Supreme Court last week. As Texas law requires a new execution date to be set at least 90 days in the future, Roberson’s attorney, Gretchen Sween, has indicated that a new date may not be set until next year, according to CNN.
However, the logistics of Roberson’s testimony remain cloudy.
While lawmakers expect him to appear in person at the Capitol in Austin, the Texas Attorney General’s office has pushed for a virtual appearance. The disagreement has led to a standoff between the committee, Roberson’s legal team, and prison officials, who cite safety and policy concerns for the death row inmates’ testimony.
“I fully expect him to testify today, we’re going to make reasonable accommodations to ensure that his testimony is heard before this committee sooner rather than later,” Rep. Jeff Leach told CNN.
The ongoing legal battle includes motions filed with the Texas Supreme Court by the attorney general and the committee.
Roberson’s case highlights many concerns over using a “shaken baby” medical diagnosis in legal proceedings. His defense continues to reaffirm that many factors, including Nikki’s pre-existing health conditions, were not adequately considered during the investigation.
As the committee meeting and testimony approaches, advocates for Roberson’s case call for reevaluating his conviction and the evidence used against him. Protesters gathered outside the prison last week, expressing their support for Roberson and urging state lawmakers to reconsider the application of forensic science in similar cases, per CNN.
Notably, at least eight people in the U.S. have received death sentences tied to shaken baby syndrome cases.
According to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, the state currently has two more executions scheduled, the next scheduled for February 2025.