UPDATE to original story: Visiting Judge Sid Harle granted the defense’s request on Wednesday to recuse Judge John Roach from hearing any further matters related to the Carmelo Anthony case and pending appeal. Administrative Judge Ray Wheless will appoint the next judge to hear the defense’s motion for a retrial, which the defense will present in court on Thursday.
A visiting judge in Collin County heard arguments Wednesday on whether to remove Judge John Roach Jr. from Karmelo Anthony’s case as Anthony’s new defense team seeks a new trial in the 2025 fatal stabbing of 17-year-old Austin Metcalf.
Anthony, 19, was convicted of murder in June and sentenced to 35 years in prison. He is being held by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice at the Pack Unit near Navasota.
The two-day post-trial proceedings began with the recusal hearing before visiting Judge Sid Harle, a San Antonio-area judge who previously presided over the first trial stemming from the Uvalde school shooting.
Anthony’s attorneys are asking Harle to recuse Roach only from Anthony’s case. If Roach is removed, another judge would handle Thursday’s hearing on the defense’s request for a new trial.
Why the Defense Wants Roach Removed
Anthony’s new defense team, led by attorney Russell Wilson, argues that statements Roach made publicly after the trial raise questions about his impartiality.
The defense points to Roach’s comments about the trial’s outcome and his description of Anthony as a “nice young man who committed a crime.” Attorneys also cite Roach’s decisions restricting public and media access during the trial.
The defense argues those statements and decisions create a concern that Roach has become personally involved in issues that could be raised as part of Anthony’s request for a new trial.
The trial was subject to strict courtroom-access rules because of intense public interest. Media access was limited, cameras were prohibited, and public seating was restricted. People seeking to attend the proceedings sometimes lined up hours before court opened.
Anthony’s attorneys argue that the restrictions effectively closed the courtroom and violated his constitutional right to a public trial.
What Happened at the Track Meet
Anthony was convicted in the April 2, 2025, stabbing death of Metcalf at a regional high school track meet in Frisco.
According to evidence presented at trial, Anthony, a Centennial High School student, was sitting beneath the Memorial High School team tent when Metcalf, a Memorial student, asked him to leave. Witnesses testified that Anthony stabbed Metcalf in the chest with a pocketknife.
The two teens did not appear to have known each other before the confrontation.
Anthony was 17 at the time of the stabbing. His defense has maintained that the stabbing occurred in self-defense.
Prosecutors Defend the Original Trial
Collin County District Attorney Greg Willis and lead prosecutor Bill Wirskye have rejected the defense’s claims that the trial was unfair.
Wirskye previously said the jury heard extensive evidence before unanimously finding Anthony guilty and that prosecutors remain confident in the verdict and fairness of the proceedings.
Prosecutors have also challenged claims surrounding an informal agreement between the defense and prosecution concerning evidence about Anthony and Metcalf.
An affidavit from Anthony’s former lead attorney alleged prosecutors violated a “gentlemen’s agreement” limiting character and background evidence. The defense also alleged Roach rushed a closed-door hearing concerning whether Anthony would testify.
Court transcripts cited by prosecutors, however, show that the parties discussed the agreement and that Roach told them he would make rulings based on the rules of evidence. Anthony ultimately chose not to testify after discussing the decision with his attorneys and family.
Willis has said the transcript contradicts several of the defense’s claims and that he expects Anthony’s appeal to be unsuccessful.
What Happens Next
Wednesday’s hearing will determine whether Roach remains assigned to the case.
If Harle grants the recusal request, another judge will hear Thursday’s arguments for a new trial. If Roach remains on the case, Anthony’s attorneys are expected to present their new-trial arguments before him.
The hearings could bring forward additional testimony and evidence that have not previously been made public.
The proceedings mark the first major step in Anthony’s post-conviction effort to overturn his murder conviction and obtain a new trial.
