The Texas Supreme Court has issued a last-minute stay of execution for Robert Roberson, who was set to be the first person in the U.S. executed based on a shaken baby syndrome diagnosis. This decision followed a bipartisan appeal from Texas lawmakers, who raised concerns about the scientific validity of the syndrome in his conviction. Roberson, now 57, has spent years on death row for the 2002 death of his 2-year-old daughter, according to AP News.
Earlier in the day, the situation looked dire for Roberson, as his holding cell was just feet from the execution chamber at the Walls Unit in Huntsville. However, the tide turned when Texas legislators subpoenaed him to testify before a House committee. This unprecedented legal move aimed to use the Legislature's authority to halt the execution, and it briefly succeeded in a lower court before being overturned by an appeals panel. The Texas Supreme Court ultimately intervened, stopping the execution with less than two hours to spare, as KSAT reported.
Roberson's execution drew significant political attention, including criticism from Governor Greg Abbott, who chose not to delay the punishment for 30 days. The U.S. Supreme Court also weighed in, with Justice Sonia Sotomayor urging a delay, though she did not intervene directly. Abbott has only halted an execution once before during his time as governor.
During a legislative session aimed at blocking Roberson's execution, lawmakers cited a 2013 Texas law that allows for convictions to be challenged based on new scientific evidence. Anderson County District Attorney Allyson Mitchell, who prosecuted Roberson, testified that a judge had previously rejected new evidence from Roberson's attorneys. She stated that "Based on the totality of the evidence, a murder took place here. Mr. Roberson took the life of his almost 3-year-old daughter." The case has renewed scrutiny of shaken baby syndrome, with Roberson's supporters, including lawmakers, medical experts, and author John Grisham, arguing that the medical diagnosis behind his conviction is now considered outdated and flawed, as KSAT revealed.
Roberson's attorneys argue that his daughter, Nikki Curtis, did not die from abuse but from complications related to severe pneumonia. They also claim that Roberson's undiagnosed autism affected his ability to show typical emotional responses, which may have influenced how authorities perceived his reaction to his daughter's death. Roberson is scheduled to testify before the Texas House committee on Monday, offering lawmakers another chance to review the details of his case and the controversial basis of his conviction.
