Texas Inmate Subpoenaed in 'Junk Science' Law Review

Texas death row inmate Robert Roberson, convicted of murdering his 2-year-old daughter based on a contested 'shaken baby syndrome' diagnosis, was subpoenaed by the Texas House Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence to testify about the state's 'junk science' law. This law, enacted in 2013, allows for the reevaluation of convictions if new scientific evidence emerges. His scheduled execution on October 17 was halted due to the subpoena, and a new execution date has not been set. Despite legal challenges and opposition from the Texas Attorney General's office, which tried to prevent his appearance, the committee maintains that Roberson's testimony is crucial for examining the impact of potentially flawed forensic science on wrongful convictions. The Texas Supreme Court ruled that while a subpoena cannot stop an execution, Roberson can testify if it does not interfere with legal proceedings. Lawmakers and advocates argue this could spotlight systemic issues in the application of forensic science in capital punishment cases.