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Dateline Originals

The Last Appeal - Ep. 4: The Reckoning

1/15/202623 min

Days before Robert Roberson's scheduled execution, his lawyer scrambles to save his life. The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals weighs in. This episode originally published on October 9, 2025. 

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Clips

Choosing Truth Over Plea
Facing Final Words
Stay Won, War Continues
Judge’s Hidden Role
Hope Despite Everything

Transcript preview

First 90 seconds

  1. John Grisham· Soundbite0:00

    I'm Craig Melvin. Cheers.

  2. Lester Holt· Host0:01

    Cheers.

  3. Terri Compton· Soundbite0:02

    Cheers.

  4. John Grisham· Soundbite0:02

    I've always been a glass half full kind of guy, and now I'm talking to some people who look at the world that way too. Some really fascinating folks who shared their defining moments, their triumphs, their challenges. Their stories are funny and quite candid. So I hope you'll join me each week, and who knows? You might just come away with your own glass half full.

  5. Speaker 30:24

    Search Glass Half Full with Craig Melvin from TODAY on YouTube and wherever you get your podcasts.

  6. John Grisham· Soundbite0:29

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  7. Speaker 30:33

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  8. Lester Holt· Host0:59

    [Instrumental music] In October 2024, Robert Roberson was less than two hours away from dying when he won a last-minute stay.

  9. Robert Roberson· Soundbite1:12

    That was a long day.

  10. Lester Holt· Host1:13

    He recently shared with me what hardly anyone lives to describe, the choreography of an execution, the hours leading up to his own death.

  11. Robert Roberson· Soundbite1:24

    I had to strip, and they gave me some, some, uh, other fresh clothing and stuff and stuff,

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