AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — The execution of Robert Roberson has been cleared to proceed following a recent Texas Supreme Court decision. Roberson, who could become the first individual in the United States executed for a murder conviction involving shaken baby syndrome, has become a focal point of debate as some medical professionals question the diagnosis.
Originally sentenced in 2003 for the death of his 2-year-old daughter, Roberson was set for execution by lethal injection on October 17. However, a bipartisan group of Texas legislators intervened with a subpoena requiring Roberson to appear at the Capitol shortly after his scheduled execution, effectively delaying the process.
The maneuver created a temporary legal blockade against Roberson’s execution. But on Friday, the Texas Supreme Court determined that such legislative action cannot halt an execution, thus resuming the process unless Governor Greg Abbott issues a 30-day postponement. A new execution date has yet to be announced.
Timeline of Events
February 2003: Roberson is found guilty of the murder of his daughter, Nikki Curtis, in Palestine, Texas, with prosecutors alleging she succumbed to severe head injuries from violent shaking.
July 2024: An execution date is set for October 17 after Roberson’s appeals are exhausted.
September 2024: Nearly 90 Texas lawmakers from both parties submit a clemency request to the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles, asserting that Nikki Curtis likely died from pneumonia, not abuse. The petition gains support from the case’s former lead detective, several medical experts, civil rights activists, and author John Grisham.
October 16: The parole board unanimously votes against recommending clemency, a prerequisite for Governor Abbott to consider clemency. With execution looming, a Texas House committee orders Roberson to testify post-execution date.
October 18: The Texas Supreme Court temporarily rules in favor of lawmakers, permitting Roberson’s testimony and delaying the execution.
October 21, 2024: Roberson does not appear at the committee hearing after objections from the attorney general. Celebrity Dr. Phil McGraw and John Grisham testify, expressing concerns over the conviction based on “junk science.”
November 15: The state Supreme Court decides that legislative subpoenas cannot impede an execution.
