Photo of Robert Roberson by Ilana Panich-Linsman for Innocence Project
Robert Roberson is an innocent father with Autism who has spent more than 20 years on death row in Texas for a crime that never occurred. He faced execution dates in 2024 and again in 2025, even though no court has yet reviewed the mountain of evidence proving that the tragic 2002 death of Roberson’s chronically ill toddler, Nikki, resulted from illness, medical error, and accident. Roberson is the first person in the United States to face execution for a conviction obtained using the now widely debunked “Shaken Baby Syndrome” (SBS) hypothesis.
The Latest Developments (as of June 15, 2026):
On October 9, 2025, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals (CCA) granted a stay of execution and remanded Robert’s case to the district court to consider whether his case warrants relief for the reasons set forth in Ex Parte Roark.
On April 10, 2026, Judge Austin Reeve Jackson, presiding by appointment over the 3rd District Court, Anderson County, Texas, held a status conference in Robert’s case and ordered both parties to submit written arguments as to how the CCA’s 2024 decision in Ex Parte Roark applies to Robert’s case.
On June 12, 2026, Robert’s attorneys filed written arguments, along with a motion that requests a one-day in-person hearing, to address “the material similarities and differences between the facts and the Article 11.073 ‘changed science’ claims in Andrew Roark’s and Robert Roberson’s cases.”
On this page, you will find background information and the campaigns in 2024 and 2025 to save Robert, as well as articles, podcasts, and videos related to the case.
Background on the case
On Thursday, October 9, 2025, one week before he was set to be put to death for a crime that never occurred, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals (CCA) granted a stay of execution to Robert Roberson. The CCA sent the case back to the trial court to determine whether Robert should receive relief based on the CCA’s ruling in another case involving a diagnosis of “Shaken Baby Syndrome” (SBS). In Ex Parte Roark, the CCA overturned the conviction of Andrew Roark in October 2024 after finding the SBS hypothesis used against him had been discredited. Robert likewise seeks a new trial that would reflect the changes in scientific understanding with respect to SBS since his 2003 conviction.
It will be up to the trial court to recommend whether Robert’s conviction should stand or if he should receive a new trial based on the new scientific and medical evidence of what actually caused Nikki’s tragic death. The case ultimately will return to the CCA for a final determination.
Meanwhile, Robert remains on death row, where he has spent the last 22 years.
Read: What People Are Saying About Robert Roberson
Quotes from state legislators, a wide array of scientists and medical professionals, the lead detective, a juror, an SBS/AHT exoneree, and others who believe in Robert’s innocence.
Hear Robert in his own words in this interview with the Dallas Morning News:
News and Events Related to Robert Roberson in 2025
“Texans should be outraged that the court has scheduled an execution date for a demonstrably innocent man. Everyone who has taken the time to look at the evidence of Robert Roberson’s innocence—including the lead detective, one of the jurors, a range of highly qualified experts, and a bipartisan group of Texas lawmakers—has reached the same conclusion: Nikki’s death was a terrible tragedy. Robert did not kill her. There was no crime.
“We will seek a stay of Mr. Roberson’s execution so all of the evidence that proves he is innocent can be reviewed by the courts without the pressure of a looming execution date.”
- Gretchen Sween, attorney for Robert Roberson, July 16, 2025
Roberson asks court to consider New Jersey’s landmark shaken baby ruling (November 20, 2025)
Robert Roberson’s Execution Is Stayed by the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals (October 9, 2025)
John Grisham to author non-fiction book on Robert Roberson (September 10, 2025)
20 exonerees call on Texas authorities to prevent Roberson’s wrongful execution. Read the letter and watch the virtual press conference. (September 4, 2025)
Webinar “Robert Roberson, Autism, and Injustice,” hosted by the Autism Society of Texas and Autism Society of America (September 2025)
Court Schedules October 16 Execution for Robert Roberson, Innocent Man Convicted in Texas “Shaken Baby” Case (July 16, 2025)
Robert Roberson’s Attorneys File Objection to Texas AG’s Request for Execution Date in Innocence Case (June 17, 2025)
Roberson asks Texas CCA again to grant relief based on significant new evidence supporting actual innocence (February 19, 2025)
The 2024 Campaign to Save Robert Roberson
Robert Roberson was scheduled for execution on October 17, 2024, but was spared after a bipartisan group of Texas lawmakers held hearings to examine why the courts had failed to grant relief under the “junk science” law to help innocent people like Robert.
The lawmakers subpoenaed Robert to testify at the hearing, which led to a temporary stay of execution. But on November 15, 2024, the Supreme Court of Texas ruled “the [House] committee’s authority to compel testimony does not include the power to override the scheduled legal process leading to an execution” and it lifted the stay of execution. The ruling affirmed the Committee’s right to elicit testimony from Roberson but expressly declined to consider any substantive issues in his case.
The Texas House Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence scheduled a hearing for December 20, 2024, and issued another subpoena for Roberson to appear in person at the State Capitol to provide testimony, but Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a motion that blocked Roberson from testifying.
Watch State Representatives Jeff Leach [R] and Joe Moody [D] discuss their intervention in Roberson’s case during a discussion hosted by the Texas Tribune on December 6, 2024.
Here’s a chronology (in reverse order) of the 2024 campaign to save Robert and the dramatic events leading to the stay of execution:
October 21, 2024: Texas House Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence holds a nine-hour hearing on the death penalty case of Robert Roberson and Texas’s junk science law. Witnesses include Dr. Phil, John Grisham, and Terre Compton, who served on the jury that sentenced Roberson to death in 2003.
Watch a 41-second synopsis: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Ief10N1Ge2c.
Watch the hearing in its entirety: https://house.texas.gov/videos/20863
October 17, 2024 10:00 PM CT: The Supreme Court of Texas grants a Texas House of Representatives’ emergency motion in part and issued a stay, effectively halting the scheduled execution of Robert Roberson.
Recognizing that the lawmakers’ case raised important separation of powers questions that should not be rendered moot by Roberson’s execution, the Texas Supreme Court reinstates the temporary restraining order requested by the Texas lawmakers.
“The vast team fighting for Robert Roberson – people all across Texas, the country, and the world – are elated tonight that a contingent of brave, bipartisan Texas lawmakers chose to dig deep into the facts of Robert’s case that no court had yet considered and recognized that his life was worth fighting for. He lives to fight another day and hopes that his experience can help improve the integrity of our criminal legal system. Thank you to all who have supported Robert, an innocent man on Texas’s death row.”
– Gretchen Sween, Counsel for Robert Roberson, October 17, 2024
For a comprehensive synopsis of what transpired in Roberson’s case that day, read this coverage from the Texas Tribune.
October 17, 2024 6:30 PM CT: The U.S. Supreme Court denies Roberson’s motion for a stay of execution.
Earlier in the day, a Travis County judge issues a temporary restraining order blocking the looming execution based on the subpoena issued by lawmakers. The Texas Attorney General’s Office appeals to the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, which vacates the order.
October 16, 2024: Texas House Criminal Jurisprudence Committee holds an extraordinary hearing on Roberson’s case, at the conclusion of which the committee issues a subpoena for Roberson to appear before them as a last-ditch effort to stop his execution.
Earlier in the day, TCADP joins forces with the Innocence Project to deliver more than 133K petition signatures urging Governor Abbott to do everything in his power to stop the execution. Texas exonerees and leaders in the Autism advocacy community lead that effort on behalf of everyone who signed the petition.
October 16, 2024: Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles votes 6-0 against recommending clemency, leaving Governor Abbott with the option of using his independent authority to grant a one-time 30-day reprieve. Read the full statement from Roberson’s attorney.
“It is not shocking that the criminal justice system failed Mr. Roberson so badly. What’s shocking is that, so far, the system has been unable to correct itself—when Texas lawmakers recognized the problem with wrongful convictions based on discredited ‘science’ over ten years ago. We have tried multiple times to utilize that law. Multiple times we have been turned away—without explanation or consideration of the new evidence. We will ask Governor Abbott to issue a 30-day reprieve so we can continue to pursue Mr. Roberson’s innocence claim. We pray that Governor Abbott does everything in his power to prevent the tragic, irreversible mistake of executing an innocent man.”
– Gretchen Sween, Counsel for Robert Roberson
October 11, 2024: Texas Court of Criminal Appeals (CCA) – without a written opinion – denies Roberson’s request to stay his execution. The CCA also denies, without issuing an opinion, Roberson’s request that the Court reconsider its denial of post-conviction relief.
October 7, 2024: Attorneys file an emergency motion asking the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals to stay the execution and reconsider innocence claim based on new scientific evidence
September 25, 2024: Roberson’s attorneys file motion to remove judge from the case and vacate the execution warrant
September 27, 2024: Six lawmakers visit Roberson at the Polunsky Unit in Livingston. They pray with him and hold a press conference after the meeting. State Representative Joe Moody said, “I visited Robert Roberson on death row thinking I’d be sharing a message of hope with him, but it was very mutual. His deep faith, humor, and unshakable hope for the future despite a looming execution left me inspired. Justice must be done—clemency for Robert Roberson.”
September 17, 2024: Roberson applies for clemency with the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles and Governor Greg Abbott. His clemency petition includes letters of support from 34 eminent scientists and doctors from around the world; 8 organizations that advocate for people with Autism and their families; 8 groups that advocate for parental rights; Witness to Innocence, an organization of death row exonerees; 70 attorneys who have represented people wrongfully accused of child abuse; former lead detective Brian Wharton, who believes Roberson is innocent; and spiritual advisors, friends, and supporters who attest to Roberson’s faithful, peaceful, and loving nature.
September 17, 2024: A bipartisan group of 86 Texas legislators, under the leadership of the House Criminal Justice Reform Caucus, submit a letter to the Board and Governor expressing support for clemency for Roberson, “out of grave concern that Texas may put him to death for a crime that did not occur.” Watch the press conference here.
September 11, 2024: Texas Court of Criminal Appeals dismisses Roberson’s appeal, denies motion for a stay of execution without reviewing merits of claims raised.
Additional Resources on Robert Roberson
Podcasts & Videos
Unshaken Truth Podcast: Hosted by SBS exonerees Josh Burns and Andrew Roark
NYT Opinion Video – “He didn’t kill his child, but he’s about to be executed anyway.” In this remarkable video, former detective Brian Wharton visits Roberson on death row to apologize for the role he played in Roberson’s wrongful conviction.
“Is Justice Served? Legislative intervention and the death penalty”
On December 6, 2024, the Texas Tribune hosted “Is Justice Served? Legislative intervention and the death penalty”, a conversation with State Representatives Joe Moody and Jeff Leach about their efforts to stop Robert Roberson’s execution and their concerns about the science behind the shaken baby syndrome diagnosis that prompted a jury to sentence him to death.
The Syndrome: A documentary about Shaken Baby Syndrome
CSI on Trial: Shaken Baby Syndrome
Legislators address media outside Polunsky Unit after visit with Robert Roberson
NBC Nightly News segment on Robert Roberson (October 3, 2024)
Video of support for Robert Roberson from the Innocent Project
Articles from 2024
An Autistic Man Faces Execution: Misdiagnosis, Misjudgment, and a Life on the Line
What to Know About Robert Roberson Facing Execution on Oct. 16 for a Crime That Never Occurred
Will Texas Kill This Innocent Man? By Josh Grisham for D Magazine