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Texas Supreme Court Unanimously Rules Lawmakers Cannot Halt Executions; Robert Roberson's 'Shaken Baby' Execution to Proceed

Nov 15, 2024, 04:45 PM

The Texas Supreme Court unanimously ruled on Friday that lawmakers cannot use legislative subpoenas to halt executions, clearing the way for the execution of Robert Roberson to proceed. Roberson was convicted of the 2002 murder of his 2-year-old daughter in a shaken baby syndrome case that has come under scrutiny. Last month, the Texas House Criminal Jurisprudence Committee used a last-minute subpoena to pause his October 17 lethal injection, raising questions about the separation of powers between the legislative and judicial branches. In its decision, the court emphasized that "legislative investigatory power, even at its maximum, is insufficient to forestall a long-scheduled execution under the circumstances presented." While the ruling allows prosecutors to seek a new execution date for Roberson, it also suggests that there may still be time for him to testify before the Texas House panel.