<\/p>\n
Supporters of Karmelo Anthony chant as they pose for photos outside the Collin County Courthouse after Judge John Roach Jr. was recused from the next phase of Anthony\u2019s murder trial, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026, in McKinney.<\/p>\n
El\u00edas Valverde II\/The Dallas Morning News<\/p>\n
Cheers erupted in the Collin County<\/a> courthouse Wednesday after Judge Sid Harle ruled District Judge John Roach Jr. must be removed<\/a> from the next steps of Karmelo Anthony\u2019s case.<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n Roach presided over the Frisco teen’s June trial, where the 19-year-old was sentenced to 35 years in prison for the fatal stabbing of 17-year-old Austin Metcalf at a high school track meet.\u00a0<\/p>\n Anthony\u2019s attorneys successfully argued that public statements Roach made after the trial \u2014 as well as his move to eliminate an overflow room after jury selection\u00a0 \u2014 compromised Anthony’s ability to receive a fair trial.\u00a0<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Anthony\u2019s\u00a0next hearing, where his legal team will attempt to secure a new trial for the teen, is scheduled for Thursday. Here\u2019s what to know about what’s next.<\/p>\n Judge John Roach Jr., the presiding judge of the 296th District Court, poses for a photo with his Boykin Spaniel named Justice in his courtroom in the Collin County Courthouse in McKinney, TX, Friday, June 12, 2026. Roach presided over the Karmelo Anthony murder trial.<\/p>\n Juan Figueroa\/The Dallas Morning News<\/p>\n Who is Judge Roach?<\/p>\n Roach, who has been on the bench since 2007, is a well-known conservative judge in Collin County. Attorneys who argued cases before Roach previously told The Dallas Morning News<\/a> he has a reputation for being clear and straightforward.\u00a0<\/p>\n The judge is set to retire when his term expires on\u00a0Dec. 31.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Related: Judge John Roach Jr. recused from next steps of Karmelo Anthony’s case<\/a><\/p>\n Roach is no stranger to high-profile cases \u2014 he previously oversaw the trial of Brandon McCall<\/a>, who was sentenced to death<\/a> in 2020 after he was convicted of killing a Richardson police officer.<\/p>\n Why was Roach recused?<\/p>\n While Harle said he personally believed Roach could preside fairly over Anthony\u2019s case, he ultimately found the evidence presented by the defense compelling enough to rule that\u00a0Roach must step down from the case.\u00a0<\/p>\n Anthony\u2019s lawyers took a two-pronged approach to argue for Roach\u2019s recusal: pointing to public statements as a sign of Roach\u2019s apparent bias, and homing in on his decision to eliminate access to an overflow room as a \u201cstructural error.\u201d<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Russell Wilson, Anthony\u2019s lead counsel, played an 18-minute audio clip of Roach\u2019s interview with WFAA to start Wednesday morning\u2019s proceedings.\u00a0<\/p>\n In the recording, Roach said he believed the jury \u201cgot it right,\u201d and that Anthony \u201ccommitted a crime.\u201d The statements, Wilson argued, violated the Texas Judicial Code of Conduct, which instructs judges to abstain from commenting publicly about ongoing proceedings.<\/p>\n Related: Karmelo Anthony trial: Jury hands down 35-year sentence<\/a><\/p>\n Wilson also focused on Roach\u2019s decision to completely cut off access to an overflow room during the trial \u2014 without providing an on-the-record explanation \u2014 as a violation of Anthony\u2019s Sixth Amendment right to a public trial.<\/p>\n \u201cWe believe we have shown, overwhelmingly, that Judge Roach should be recused,\u201d Wilson said.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Supporters of Karmelo Anthony chant as they pose for photos outside the Collin County Courthouse after Judge John Roach Jr. was recused from the next phase of Anthony\u2019s murder trial, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026, in McKinney.<\/p>\n El\u00edas Valverde II\/The Dallas Morning News<\/p>\n What did the state say?<\/p>\n Collin County prosecutor Bill Wirskye told the court Wednesday he was unsure if the state should have been a party to the hearing: \u201cI don\u2019t know if it\u2019s our job to defend Judge Roach or not,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Wirskye noted both parties \u2014 the state and the defense \u2014 agreed to the rules Roach set in place to \u201cprotect the integrity of the trial.” He also honed in on the defense citing an open letter Roach wrote after the trial to the “Collin County family,” stating gratitude does not compromise a judge\u2019s ability to be fair.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s too bitter a pill to swallow, your honor,\u201d Wirskye said. \u201cFrom where we sit, those of us who lived it, he didn\u2019t do anything wrong.\u201d<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Roach did not respond to a request for comment from The News.<\/p>\n Who will preside over the hearing for a new trial?<\/p>\n Judge Ray Wheless, the presiding judge of the 1st Administrative Judicial Region, assigned retired judge Michael Chitty<\/a> to preside over the next phase of Anthony’s case, in which Anthony’s appellate attorneys will argue that the teen should have a new trial.\u00a0That hearing will begin at 9 a.m. Thursday at the Collin County courthouse.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n