The Latest Breaking News from the Texas Defender Service

Texas executes 600th inmate since death penalty was reinstated in 1976

Edward Busby was executed by lethal injection Thursday, reinforcing Texas’ position as the nation's leader in capital punishment.

The Texas Tribune · May 15

Proposal to enhance Texas’ pioneering junk science law approved by Texas House

Last year, lawmakers waded into a dramatic feud over the case of death row inmate Robert Roberson, seen as the embodiment of the failures of Texas’ junk science law.

The Texas Tribune · May 14, 2025

As Robert Roberson’s execution neared, Gov. Greg Abbott stuck to silence

It’s rare for governors to step in to halt executions. In the case of Robert Roberson, it ended up being state lawmakers who took extraordinary steps.

The Texas Tribune · Oct 19, 2024