Texas Supreme Court Halts Execution of Man in Shaken Baby Case After Lawmakers’ Last-Minute Appeal

The Texas Supreme Court has halted the scheduled execution of Robert Roberson, who was convicted of killing his 2-year-old daughter in 2002. This decision comes after a flurry of legal challenges and public pressure from lawmakers who believe he is innocent and was wrongly convicted based on flawed evidence.

Roberson had been in a prison holding cell near the death chamber at the Walls Unit in Huntsville, Texas, before the court stayed his execution. He expressed gratitude to supporters and praised God for the decision.

Despite the usual reluctance of the Texas Supreme Court to intervene in criminal cases, they made an exception in Roberson’s case due to the extraordinary efforts of bipartisan lawmakers who issued a subpoena for him to testify before a House committee. This move ultimately led to the temporary halt of his execution.

Governor Greg Abbott had the authority to delay Roberson’s punishment for 30 days but has not publicly commented on the case. The U.S. Supreme Court declined to halt the execution earlier in the day, with Justice Sonia Sotomayor urging Abbott to grant a 30-day reprieve.

Roberson’s lawyers had been waiting for Abbott’s decision after the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles denied his clemency petition. The parole board’s unanimous decision not to recommend commutation or a delay in execution was a rare occurrence, as they have only recommended clemency six times since 1982.

The case has sparked debate over shaken baby syndrome, with Roberson’s supporters arguing that his conviction was based on outdated scientific evidence. They claim that new evidence shows his daughter died from pneumonia-related complications, not abuse.

Roberson’s attorneys also highlighted his undiagnosed autism at the time of his daughter’s death, suggesting that authorities misinterpreted his lack of emotion as a sign of guilt. The bipartisan group of lawmakers advocating for Roberson’s case has raised questions about the fairness of his conviction and the validity of shaken baby syndrome diagnoses.