Over six hours on the day Robert Roberson was set to be put to death, Texas House lawmakers waged a rollercoaster legal battle to delay his execution, setting off a separation-of-powers conflict that would have to be resolved before the state could resume its execution plan. The Texas Supreme Court halted Roberson’s execution late Thursday — the first time in Texas history, experts believed, that one high court blocked an execution that was already approved by the other. The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals repeatedly declined to stop Roberson’s execution, clearing the way for it to move forward earlier that same day.
The Texas Supreme Court’s order came as a result of a Hail Mary subpoena a Texas House committee issued to Roberson in a frenzied bid to save his life. The lawmakers, who warned the state was about to kill a likely innocent man, got their way — at least for now. Roberson was convicted in 2003 in the death of his chronically ill 2-year-old daughter Nikki, who was given a shaken baby syndrome diagnosis that many experts and lawmakers say is no longer supported by the scientific evidence.
Roberson has maintained his innocence over two decades on death row, while prosecutors say evidence of abuse is still convincing. Roberson is still sentenced to die. He is expected to testify before the Texas House panel that subpoenaed him on Monday.
Here’s what you need to know. The Texas House Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence voted unanimously on Wednesday to subp.
