Karmelo Anthony Case: New Judge to be Appointed Ahead of Retrial Hearing
Karmelo Anthony Case Judge Removed As He Seeks New Trial
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UPDATE
1:00 p.m. PST -- Karmelo Anthony's legal team says they are "pleased" with Judge John Roach being reclused from further legal proceedings involving his case.
They note ... "Today’s ruling answers a fundamental question: whether a reasonable fully informed observer would see Judge Roach’s conduct and believe that he could fairly and impartially consider a motion for new trial. We believe for the facts and reasons addressed in the motion and applicable law that the judge was correct in granting the motion to recuse."
Karmelo Anthony's defense team just scored a major victory in their push for a new trial -- their request for a new judge in the case has been accepted.
The decision came from a Collin County, Texas courtroom Wednesday morning ... courtesy of visiting Judge Sid Harle -- who served as the judge in the first Uvalde school shooting trial.
This means Judge John Roach -- who presided over Karmelo's initial trial and has publicly stated he thought the trial was fair -- has been recused. Karmelo's attorneys argued Roach's public comments following the trial proved he was unable to be unbiased while hearing their case for a new trial.
The new judge has yet to be appointed.
When a new judge is appointed, they are expected to hear arguments from Karmelo's defense on Thursday as to why he should get a new trial.
As you know, Karmelo was accused of fatally stabbing Austin Metcalf with a pocketknife during an April 2025 track meet in Frisco, Texas.
Karmelo was found guilty of murder after a highly publicized trial in June, and he was sentenced to 35 years in prison.
He is currently housed at the Wallace Pack Unit, a medium-security state prison operated by Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
Karemelo attended Wednesday's hearing in a green jumpsuit. His parents and Austin's parents were also in the courtroom. His supporters reportedly cheered in the courthouse and on the streets outside the building when Judge Roach was ordered removed from the case.
His family has maintained his innocence and immediately began working on an appeal.
