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Gov. Greg Abbott‘s workplace condemned the actions of a bipartisan group of Texas legislators Monday, successfully breaking his silence within the pending execution of Robert Roberson.
In an amicus temporary filed by James P. Sullivan, the governor’s basic counsel, the governor’s workplace mentioned lawmakers “stepped out of line” after they intervened to avoid wasting Roberson’s life.
The temporary argued the ability to grant clemency in a capital case, together with a 30-day reprieve, lies with the governor alone.
“Unless the Court rejects that tactic, it can be repeated in every capital case, effectively rewriting the Constitution to reassign a power given only to the Governor,” Sullivan argued.
The temporary accounts for Abbott’s first public feedback on the matter. The governor, who had the flexibility to grant Roberson a 30-day reprieve was silent final week because the unprecedented authorized battle unfolded.
The Texas Supreme Court docket halted the execution of Roberson final week after members of the Texas Home committee subpoenaed Roberson to testify in an try to avoid wasting his life.
Roberson was convicted in 2003 within the loss of life of his chronically in poor health 2-year-old daughter Nikki. Had he been executed final week, he would have been the primary individual to be executed based mostly in a case associated to shaken child syndrome, a prognosis that many consultants and lawmakers say is not supported by scientific proof.
Roberson has maintained his innocence for greater than 20 years on loss of life row.
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