The Last Appeal - Ep. 4: The Reckoning
episodePreviously titled “4 - The Reckoning” — renamed by the publisher on Aug 2, 2026
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What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
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In October 2024, Robert Robertson was less than two hours away from dying when he won a last minute stay. That was a long day. He recently shared with me what hardly anyone lives to describe, the choreography of an execution, the hours leading up to his own death.
I had to strip, and they gave me some other fresh clothing and stuff and stuff, and then they gave me a pair of cloth slippers for my feet, you know, and had to put the belt of the chain around me and handcuffs and locket in place.
Officers loaded Robert into a van bound for the 50-mile drive to Huntsville, the death chamber. He was led to a tiny cell. So I was walking back and forth, kind of pacing and stuff, you know, talking to the Lord, praying to the Lord, you know.
Robert was counting down the final minutes of his life.
not knowing if the next footstep would be news of mercy or death. I believe it was around 6 or somewhere around there and heard, got to stay or something. But then I heard they took it back, right? Until shortly after 10 p.m., when the execution was called off, the Texas Supreme Court had issued a last-minute stay.
It was a very, very, very long day, sir, you know.
Robert's prayers were answered. But one year later, the clock was ticking again. And now the state, of course, has a new death date for you. Yes, sir. Do you wish you had taken the plea bargain? No, I'm glad that I didn't. But look where you are. Yeah, look where I'm at. Thank you. It's about the truth. It's about the truth. Have you thought about last words, what you'll say? Well, that's a good one there.
And it's a hard question, right?
What led to Robert Robertson's last-minute stay of execution?
I'm Lester Holt, and this is The Last Appeal, a podcast from Dateline. Episode 4, The Reckoning.
I move as follows.
In October 2024, lawmakers had successfully saved Robert's life using an unprecedented and deliberate maneuver.
Robert Robertson, to provide all relevant testimony and information concerning the committee's inquiry.
They had summoned him to testify, but there was a catch. The hearing was set after Robertson's scheduled execution. Robert was eager to tell his story, but when the date came, he never made it to the Capitol. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton blocked him, arguing to the state's top court that the subpoena violated the law, and he said transporting Robert to the House chamber could be dangerous. Still, the legislators pressed on with the hearing. The House Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence will come to order. Instead, they called other witnesses to testify.
How did Robert experience the hours leading up to his execution?
Mr. Grisham, are you able to hear me? I can hear you, yes. Can you hear me? Okay, perfect.
Among them, best-selling author and lawyer John Grisham, who spoke with the committee through a video call. It's my honor to be here to speak for Robert Roberson. He's been closely following Robert's case. I've been on the board of the Innocence Project in New York for a long, long time.
And for the past 15 years or so, we have been more and more concerned about the shaken baby syndrome, shaken baby convictions.
And I know what it takes to have a fair trial. Robert's trial was grossly unfair.
It is a great honor to be here testifying before this committee.
Another witness, someone you've already heard from in this podcast.
My name is Terry Compton. I was one of the 12 jurors on the case of Robert Robertson's trial. And I took that position very seriously.
Terry Compton, the juror, had gotten a visit from Gretchen Swinn, Robert's lawyer. She said she was furious after Gretchen told her details that the jurors didn't know about Nikki's medical history, about Robert's autism.
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Chapters
6 chapters
1
What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
0:00–2:50
2
What led to Robert Robertson's last-minute stay of execution?
2:50–4:00
3
How did Robert experience the hours leading up to his execution?
4:00–16:09
4
What significant events occurred during Robert's legal battle?
16:09–18:43
5
What role did Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton play in Robert's case?
18:43–25:17
6
How did juror Terry Compton reflect on her decision in Robert's trial?
25:17–25:32
Speakers
7 identifiedMore from Dateline NBC
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