The first time a condemned prisoner has testified before state lawmakers, death row inmate Robert Roberson is scheduled to make an in-person appearance at a House committee on Monday. As a result, state leaders are anticipating a potential uproar at the Texas Capitol.
A subpoena directing Roberson to appear before the Texas House Criminal Jurisprudence Committee was issued by 7-0 votes the evening before Roberson was scheduled to be executed around 6 p.m. Thursday.
Council individuals, saying they dreaded Texas was going to execute a possibly blameless man, needed Roberson to affirm about the viability of a state regulation that allows prisoners to challenge convictions in light of defamed or wrong science.
The public hearing on Monday will be streamed online, posing logistical challenges as officials struggle to accommodate a high-security prisoner and expected crowds of media, curious spectators, and protesters.
