Push for Clemency in Texas Case
Robert Roberson, a Texas man scheduled for execution on October 17, is at the center of renewed calls for clemency. Several Republican lawmakers, bestselling author John Grisham, and medical experts have joined forces to argue that Roberson’s 2002 conviction for killing his 2-year-old daughter was based on outdated and faulty scientific evidence. They are urging Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and the state’s parole board to spare his life.
Roberson’s defenders claim he was wrongly convicted of killing his daughter, Nikki Curtis, through what prosecutors described as shaken baby syndrome. Medical professionals supporting clemency argue that her injuries could have been caused by pneumonia, not violent shaking.
Clemency Remains Rare
Clemency is a legal process that allows a governor, president, or independent board to reduce the sentence of a convicted individual. It’s often seen as a last resort for death row inmates who have exhausted their judicial appeals. However, clemency is rarely granted in the U.S. According to the Death Penalty Information Center, fewer than two clemencies are granted annually on average, outside of mass commutations in some states.
In Texas, Gov. Greg Abbott can only grant clemency if the Texas Board of Pardons and Parole recommends it. Abbott, who has been governor for nearly a decade, has commuted a death sentence only once.
Other Recent Cases Highlight Clemency’s Rarity
Roberson’s case comes after Missouri and Oklahoma carried out executions despite public outcries for clemency. In Missouri, Marcellus Williams was executed on September 24 despite pleas from the victim’s family and the prosecutor for a reduced sentence. Similarly, Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt refused to follow his parole board’s recommendation to spare the life of Emmanuel Littlejohn, citing his role as a “law and order governor.”
These recent executions underscore how rare it is for governors to intervene in capital punishment cases. Governors often weigh the severity of the crime and whether the convicted person has shown remorse, but political factors may also play a role.
Republican Lawmakers Advocate for Roberson
Eighty-six Texas state representatives, including 30 Republicans, have backed Roberson’s clemency request. GOP lawmakers, such as state Rep. Lacey Hull, argue that Texans deserve confidence in the justice system and that if there’s any doubt about Roberson’s guilt, he should not be executed.
“We want our justice system to work. And I think Texans deserve to know that if a man is going to be executed, that it is right and he is guilty,” said Hull. “If there’s even a shadow of a doubt that he is innocent, we should not be executing him.”
Some Republican lawmakers see the case as a parental rights issue, advocating for safeguards to prevent false accusations of child abuse.
