Overview

• James Robertson, a South Carolina death row inmate convicted in 1999 for killing his parents, has requested to represent himself, a move likely to hasten his execution.
• Federal Judge Mary Gordon Baker has imposed a 45-day delay to assess Robertson's mental competency before allowing him to proceed with his request.
• Robertson's attorney cited untreated depression, chronic pain, and emotional distress from the recent executions of five fellow inmates, including his best friend Marion Bowman Jr., as factors affecting his decision-making.
• Volunteer executions, where inmates waive their appeals, have declined in the U.S., with only 7 of 111 executions since 2020 classified as such, compared to 65 of 590 between 2000–2009.
• The court-appointed lawyer must report back by early July on whether Robertson fully understands the legal and personal consequences of his decision to self-represent.