Roberson v. Cochran et al

On April 29, 2025, Texas death row inmate Robert Roberson filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against former Palestine Police Detective Brian Cochran, former district attorney Allyson Mitchell, and the City of Palestine. Roberson was convicted in 2003 for the murder of his 2-year-old daughter, Nikki Curtis, based on a shaken baby syndrome diagnosis. The lawsuit alleges that Cochran fabricated inculpatory statements, withheld exculpatory medical evidence, and conspired with Mitchell to secure a wrongful conviction. Roberson's execution was halted in 2024 after a legislative subpoena. The civil suit seeks damages and accountability for the alleged misconduct that led to over 20 years on death row.

Lawsuit filed on April 29, 2025, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas; pending adjudication.

Whether Detective Cochran and Prosecutor Mitchell fabricated evidence and concealed exculpatory materials that would have proven Roberson's innocence, thereby violating his constitutional rights.

The case reignites national debate on the reliability of shaken baby syndrome convictions and prosecutorial accountability. It draws attention to the use of junk science in capital trials and has galvanized bipartisan support for criminal justice reform in Texas.