Held that separation-of-powers principles prevent the Texas legislature from using its subpoena power to halt a long-scheduled execution.
More people have been executed in 2025 than in any year of the past decade. But some states are strengthening protections against the death penalty.
The state high court held that the Texas legislature’s use of its subpoena power to delay an execution violated separation-of-powers principles.
A project of the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU Law
© 2025 Brennan Center for Justice at NYU Law
Related Commentary
States Grapple with the Death Penalty
More people have been executed in 2025 than in any year of the past decade. But some states are strengthening protections against the death penalty.
Texas Lawmakers’ Unusual Attempt to Halt the Execution of a Possibly Innocent Man
The state high court held that the Texas legislature’s use of its subpoena power to delay an execution violated separation-of-powers principles.