After Robert Roberson’s execution was delayed in October 2025, the Texas Courtroom of Legal Appeals cited Texas’ junk science regulation as the explanation behind their resolution to place off the convicted felon’s demise. In gentle of the ruling, Life & Fashion breaks down what precisely the junk science regulation is.
What Is Texas’ Junk Science Legislation?
In 2013, Texas grew to become the primary state in america to supply a selected authorized avenue that enables prisoners to “problem potential wrongful convictions by displaying that adjustments within the subject of forensic science both significantly undermined the integrity of the prison trials ensuing of their convictions or else exonerated the prisoner fully,” in keeping with the State Bar of Texas web site.
In different phrases, the regulation permits an individual convicted of against the law to hunt reduction if the proof beforehand used towards them is now not seen as credible.
Why Was Robert Roberson Granted a Keep of Execution?
Roberson was discovered responsible within the 2002 demise of his 2-year-old daughter, Nikki, after she died from shaken child syndrome. He has lengthy maintained his innocence and insisted his daughter died from well being points that stemmed from acute viral pneumonia and inappropriate treatment prescribed by docs, in keeping with CBS Information.
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“Shaken child syndrome is a severe mind harm that outcomes from forcefully shaking an toddler or a toddler,” in keeping with The Mayo Clinic. “It additionally is called abusive head trauma, shaken impression syndrome, inflicted head harm or whiplash shaken toddler syndrome.”
He was initially scheduled to be executed on October 16, 2025, although the Texas Courtroom of Legal Appeals selected October 9, 2025, to place off his execution after his authorized staff argued that there have been new understandings about Nikki’s signs earlier than her demise, in keeping with CNN. Moreover, the authorized staff argued they’d new proof that proved his innocence.
The appeals courtroom introduced the brand new order when it was argued that Roberson ought to get reduction after the appeals courtroom granted a brand new trial to a person named Andrew Roark in 2024, in keeping with CNN. Roark was convicted of harm to a baby after allegedly contributing to shaken child syndrome. Nonetheless, the courtroom in the end discovered scientific proof had developed since his case first went on trial, alluding that it was “extra probably than not” that the person wouldn’t have been convicted if the case was tried in newer years.
“We remand the declare to the trial courtroom for decision,” the courtroom mentioned of the order on October 9, per CNN.
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Robert Roberson Mentioned He Will Settle for His Execution If the Courtroom Order the Dying Penalty
Earlier than his execution was delayed, Roberson advised CNN on October 8, 2025, that he was at peace with regardless of the courtroom determined to do about his execution.
“I’m not scared to die, however I’m not able to die but, you recognize,” he advised the outlet. “It doesn’t matter what occurs, I’m going house to a free world. I’m going house to be with the Lord.”
