Case: James Garfield Broadnax v. Texas, No. 25A1158
Lower Court: Texas
Docketed: Unknown
Status: Application
Question Presented: Question not identified.
On April 20, 2026, attorney Steven Craig Herzog submitted an application to Justice Alito seeking a stay of execution for Texas death row inmate James Garfield Broadnax. The application, docketed as No. 25A1158, represents a last-resort effort to halt a scheduled execution while underlying legal claims remain unresolved.
Because the question presented has not been formally identified in the docket, the precise legal theory underlying the stay request is not yet public. The absence of conference activity indicates the application is in its earliest stage; Justice Alito may act alone or refer the matter to the full Court.
Capital stay applications filed this close to an execution date carry significant procedural weight. A single Justice can grant a temporary stay to allow the full Court to consider the matter. Whether that occurs here will depend on whether Herzog’s submission presents a substantial federal question warranting further review. The docket bears watching for any order in the coming days.