Innocence Project

“For the law to ignore evolving scientific knowledge is not merely unfair; it is criminal,” said Jeff Kukucka and David Faigman for Scientific American.

This past week, Texas lawmakers held two hearings where experts testified to #RobertRoberson's innocence. “These people believe Robert isn’t guilty,” wrote several State Reps. “These people know Robert didn’t get a fair trial.”

#RobertRoberson's legal team hit back at the AG’s statement yesterday, rebutting 12 alleged misrepresentations of his guilt—covering issues like the autopsy report, abuse claims, and accusations that he changed his story. Read more:

"The OAG’s release about #RobertRoberson’s case is misleading and... simply untrue", wrote several co-chairs of the Texas House Criminal Justice Reform Caucus. The statement "fails to acknowledge any of the additional evidence discovered since trial.”

"We know that the laws our legislature created to correct those problems haven’t worked as intended for Robert and people like him. That’s why we’re here and why we won’t quit," reads a letter by bipartisan Texas legislators in support of #RobertRoberson.

“I just finally came to the conclusion he was an innocent man,” said a juror who originally voted in favor of Roberson’s conviction and death sentence. “In good conscience, I could not live with myself thinking that I had a hand in putting an innocent man to death.”

There’s still time for Texas—the AG, Gov. Abbott, and courts— to do the right thing. Jurors lacked key facts about Nikki's death, and shaken baby syndrome science has evolved. #RobertRoberson deserves a new trial. The stakes are too high to get this wrong.

Yesterday, the Texas Attorney General issued a press release misrepresenting #RobertRoberson’s innocence case, discrediting him and his supporters. His legal team has issued a point-by-point rebuttal with citations and post-conviction records. Read now:

The Nov. 5 election will reshape the state's highest criminal court, potentially affecting #RobertRoberson's case for a new trial. By the time Robert's execution could be rescheduled, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals will have three new judges.

On Monday, the Texas House Criminal Jurisprudence Committee heard from a juror that convicted #RobertRoberson, who said that if she had known of new evidence that proved his daughter did not die of homicide, she would have voted to set him free at trial.

#RobertRoberson did not appear Monday to testify before the Texas House Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence, despite a subpoena lawmakers issued last week that halted his execution for a crime that never happened.

#RobertRoberson's execution is on hold as the Texas Supreme Court reviews legal issues around his testimony. Briefs are due by early November. Once legal obstacles are cleared, a new execution date can be set no sooner than 91 days later.

The Texas House Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence will resume hearings about Texas’ junk science law and the new scientific evidence that proves #RobertRoberson was convicted based on discredited scientific evidence and is innocent. Watch at 12 p.m. CT here: https://lnkd.in/ee6XEB3z

#RobertRoberson lives another day to continue his fight for justice!

BREAKING: The Supreme Court of Texas has stayed #RobertRoberson’s Oct. 17 execution. He will not be executed tonight. The decision came after a day of multiple attempts to stop the state from carrying out his execution, including a legislative committee requesting to subpoena Robert to testify as a witness. “The full and vast team fighting for Mr. Roberson—people all across Texas, the country, and the world—are elated tonight that a contingent of brave, bipartisan group of Texas lawmakers chose to dig deep into the facts of his case that no court had yet considered and recognized that his life was worth fighting for,” said Gretchen Sween, his attorney. “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 his righteous cause.”

Just now, a judge has granted a temporary order stopping the scheduled execution of #RobertRoberson, who has maintained his innocence for over two decades. The Office of the Attorney General says it will appeal this decision.

“It is not shocking that the criminal justice system failed Mr. Roberson so badly,” wrote Gretchen Sween, #RobertRoberson's attorney. “What’s shocking is that, so far, the system has been unable to correct itself.”

Those who have spoken out against putting #RobertRoberson to death include author John Grisham, Dr. Phil (who interviewed Robert in prison), the lead detective, faith leaders and autism advocates. If facts don’t matter in matters of life and death, then when?

#RobertRoberson's attorneys have filed a request for a stay of execution with the US Supreme Court, arguing his due process rights were violated when the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals declined to consider evidence that would support his innocence.

#RobertRoberson's attorneys have urged Gov. Abbott to grant a 30-day reprieve to allow time for a court to hear the evidence that shows that Robert’s daughter, Nikki, died of natural and accidental causes and not of abuse or homicide.

"I was wrong. I didn't see Robert. I did not hear Robert," said Brian Wharton, the lead detective in his case. "I can tell you now, he is a good man. He is a kind man. He is a gracious man. And he did not do what the state of Texas and I have accused him of."

“Knowing everything that I know now, I am firmly convinced that #RobertRoberson is an innocent man,” Wharton said at a recent news conference organised by Robert’s supporters. “The system failed Robert.”

In a stunning move, a Texas House committee voted unanimously to subpoena #RobertRoberson ahead of his execution today in a last-ditch effort to save his life. https://lnkd.in/efxZ_qGP

Following the overwhelming interest in — and success of — our summer communications internship, I'm excited to announce that I'm once again seeking a communications intern for the spring. This is an amazing opportunity for undergraduate/postgraduate students who are passionate about using their voice to advance racial and criminal justice reform, want to learn the ins and outs of nonprofit communications, and are seeking to strengthen their digital storytelling skills. Candidates must be based in the tri-state area (NY, NJ, or Connecticut) and be willing to commute to our office at least once a week. And yes, this is a paid internship. Apply here: https://lnkd.in/e8NvBNH6

“Governor Abbott, I did not do this,” #RobertRoberson said in an interview with NBC News’ Lester Holt that aired Oct. 3. “And I’m just hoping and praying that you do the right thing.”

With less than 24 hours before his execution, #RobertRoberson has been subpoenaed to testify before a Texas House committee that is reconsidering the lawfulness of his conviction.

⏳ We’re down to the final hours. As of now, #RobertRoberson is scheduled to be executed TODAY, Oct. 17th, at 6 p.m. CT — for a crime that never happened. ⁠ ⁠ 🆘 We need your help, and we need it NOW. Contact Gov. Abbott and urge him to grant clemency before it’s too late at 361-264-9653 or at saveroberson.org. Every call, every share, every action counts.⁠ ⁠ It’s not too late to save Robert Roberson’s life. Let’s act before it is.

“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 lawmakers wrote in support of #RobertRoberson.

All evidence points to #RobertRoberson's innocence. Texas still plans to execute him tomorrow.

“#RobertRoberson's case will forever be a burden on my heart," said Brian Wharton, the lead detective. "It is not too late for Texas to change course and stop his execution. I sincerely hope that Governor Abbott and the Board will step in to do so.”