HOUSTON, Texas– A senior district judge has decided to recuse herself from the case of Robert Roberson, a Texas death row inmate.
This decision came after allegations were raised about Senior District Judge Deborah Oakes Evans’ impartiality. The allegations centered on her longstanding professional relationships with prosecutors and other judges involved in the case.
Roberson’s legal team argued her previous associations could affect her ability to remain unbiased. The request was filed following concerns that these relationships might compromise her neutrality in this high-stakes capital punishment case.
Roberson was convicted in 2003 for the death of his two-year-old daughter, Nikki Curtis. The prosecution argued that Roberson fatally injured Nikki in a fit of anger, leading to his conviction and subsequent placement on death row.
However, his defense has persistently challenged the verdict, drawing attention to evolving medical perspectives on “shaken baby syndrome,” the prosecution’s principal argument at the time of trial.
Roberson’s case has become a flashpoint in discussions about the death penalty and the reliability of forensic evidence. Roberson’s attorneys have maintained that new scientific insights suggest that his daughter’s symptoms might have been caused by medical conditions rather than intentional harm.
