Texas Lawmaker Under Fire for Texting Judge in Controversial Death Row Case

Texas representative Jeff Leach, who played a significant role in postponing Robert Roberson's execution, is currently under investigation for reportedly texting a judge on the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals last week to get a new trial for Roberson. The judge did not respond to Leach's statement, citing that the court did not have the authority to deal with the situation. Immediately after discovering this breach of professional behavior, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton informed the Texas Supreme Court of the problem.

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The subpoena that resulted in the stay of Roberson's execution was issued by the Texas House Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence, of which Leach is a member. In his response, Leach apologized for his incorrect grasp of the situation and acknowledged his concern regarding the current position of the matter.

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Defense counsel Ty Cardenas-Wittenstein stressed the seriousness of seeking to influence a judge outside the courtroom, adding, “Our system is based on justice and fairness,” and cautioned that such activities might endanger the integrity of the case. Because it allows one party to contact the court without the other side being present, this technique, known as ex-parte communication, is illegal because it undermines the proper functioning of the legal proceedings.

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In a public apology posted on the social media site X, Leach admitted that he had made a mistake. He stated, "I am fiercely committed to the rule of law and to strengthening our justice system," he reaffirmed his conviction that Roberson was not given a fair trial.

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