Texas Supreme Court orders last-minute stay of execution for Robert Roberson

SUMMARY

The Texas Supreme Court issued a last-minute stay of execution for Robert Roberson on October 17, just hours before he was scheduled to die by lethal injection. Roberson’s execution would have marked the first in the U.S. related to a murder conviction linked to shaken baby syndrome. His lawyers, alongside a bipartisan group of Texas lawmakers, filed an appeal citing concerns over the integrity of his trial and new evidence suggesting his innocence. Roberson's attorney, Gretchen Sween, expressed relief, stating, "He lives to fight another day... and hopes that his experience can help improve the integrity of our criminal legal system." Earlier that day, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals had denied a stay, but lawmakers issued a subpoena for Roberson to testify, prompting the Texas Supreme Court's intervention. The U.S. Supreme Court also denied a request for a stay, leaving the final decision to Texas Governor Greg Abbott for a potential reprieve.