The Texas Supreme Court has ruled against lawmakers who used their subpoena power to halt the execution of a death row inmate for his daughter’s “shaken baby” death, paving the way for it to proceed.
"Categorically prioritizing a legislative subpoena over a scheduled execution, in other words, would become a potent legal tool that could be wielded not just to obtain necessary testimony but to forestall an execution," the Texas Supreme Court said in its ruling Friday.
But the Office of the Attorney General quickly appealed the subpoena, which was supported by a district court judge's temporary injunction that halted Roberson's execution.
After the state's highest criminal court agreed with the attorney general's office, allowing Roberson's execution to continue, lawmakers then petitioned their case to the Texas Supreme Court.
"Given the overwhelming new evidence of innocence, we ask the State of Texas to refrain from setting a new execution date."
Persons:
Robert Roberson, Nikki, Roberson, Joe Moody, Jeff Leach, Moody, Leach, Ken Paxton, Nikki's, Gretchen Sween, Robert, Sween
Organizations:
Texas Supreme, Committee, Democrat, Republican, of
Locations:
Texas, U.S, Nikki's, Houston, Austin, of Texas