Robert Roberson execution is blocked by Texas judge

A Texas inmate who has been on death row for over two decades has had his execution - scheduled for tonight - blocked by a Texas judge.

Robert Roberson , 57, was set to die by lethal injection following his conviction for killing his toddler daughter Nikki at his Palestine , East Texas home in 2002.

On Thursday afternoon, just two hours before he was to be put to death, Travis County Judge Jessica Mangrum blocked Roberson's execution so that he could testify before the Texas legislature.

The legislature issued a subpoena for Roberson's testimony yesterday and Mangrum has approved a temporary restraining order.

The state attorney general's office is going to keep fighting for Roberson to be executed and will now go through the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, the Texas Observer reported.

This is a developing story.