The Texas Attorney General's Office has requested that convicted murderer Robert Roberson be prevented from appearing at a House Committee hearing. Roberson, who was convicted in 2002 for the murder of his two-year-old daughter, is being considered for testimony as part of a legislative inquiry. However, the Attorney General argues that the legislature is overstepping its authority by involving Roberson in the hearing, according to the Attorney General's Office.
Roberson's execution was set for October 2024. Texas House members tried to delay it by subpoenaing him to testify. The Attorney General's Office filed a motion to block the subpoena, saying it was a security risk and didn't follow proper rules. The subpoena was canceled because it didn't meet legal requirements.
In November, the Texas Supreme Court sided with the Attorney General, saying that a subpoena from the Texas House Committee couldn’t stop a lawfully ordered execution. Despite this, the House issued another subpoena for Roberson to appear on Friday, leading the Attorney General's Office to ask for protection against what it sees as an unconstitutional interference. An automatic stay has paused the subpoena, leaving the planned testimony uncertain while the issue is still being decided.
