Now, for the endof the week, some good news. In Texas, the state that has executed the most persons since the death penalty was reinstated in 1976, the State Supreme Court put a hold on the scheduled execution of Robert Roberson who was adjudged guilty of the murder of his2-year old daughter after the child was diagnosed of having died as a result of shaken baby syndrome.
Maintaining his innocence, he has spent 23 hours of the last 20 years in solitary. The detective in the case, lawyers and various state representatives of both parties now question whether he had a fair trial. What stopped the execution after all appeals and requests for a new trial were rejected was a subpoena from a legislative committee.
This so-called pro-life state has a long record of denying clemency, new trials, almost never questioning its convictions, no matter how spurious. But in this matter, it wasn’t that Texas was open to questioning its so-called justice; it was a procedural question as to which court had jurisdiction over a legislative subpoena. Thanks be to God.
Prayer for the Day
Called to do justice too often we have ignored you,
Letting states execute the possibly innocent;
Why is it, O God, we think that execution, state murder,
Even for the guilty responds to your call to do justice?
Move us from our certainty that brooks no doubt,
So we may on the side of life, not death.
In the name of the One who shows us how to live,
Even Christ Jesus our Lord, Amen.
Thoughts for the Day
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. We pray that Governor Abbott does everything in his power to prevent the tragic, irreversible mistake of executing an innocent man.
Gretchen Sween, Roberson’s attorney
It is beyond dispute that medical evidence presented at Mr. Roberson’s trial in 2003 is inconsistent with modern scientific principles. We believe it would be a stain on the conscience of the State of Texas for an execution to proceed while efforts are underway to remedy deficiencies in how the law was applied to this case.
Texas House Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence
Justice, justice, shall you pursue
Deuteronomy 16; 11