Judge steps down from controversial death penalty case in Texas

In Texas, the case of Robert Roberson, who was convicted in 2003 for the murder of his two-year-old daughter Nikki Curtis, has taken a complicated turn. The trial raised significant public interest and scrutiny due to the controversial use of 'shaken baby syndrome' as evidence. On November 25, 2024, Judge Deborah Oakes Evans voluntarily recused herself from the proceedings following a series of legal challenges. Previously, she had signed a death warrant for Roberson, but the execution was postponed due to political interventions and public outcry. As the judge had come out of retirement specifically to handle this case, her decision to step aside creates uncertainty for future legal actions and execution dates. The case has been embroiled in appeals and claims from Roberson's defense team questioning the legitimacy of the evidence used in the original trial, emphasizing that medical findings indicating abuse may have been misinterpreted, considering the medical history of the child involved. Roberson's lawyers argue that the fall, alongside prescribed medications that could complicate health outcomes for children, should be considered events leading to her death, rather than a straightforward case of abuse. The district attorney from Anderson County now bears the responsibility to decide on the next steps, leaving the fate of Roberson in a tenuous position as the community and advocacy groups continue to call for reevaluation of the evidence before any execution date is established. The legal landscape surrounding death penalty cases like Roberson's has drawn attention for highlighting potential miscarriages of justice, especially in cases hinging on contested medical opinions.