Update: Judge removed from Karmelo Anthony case
Karmelo Anthony’s fight for a new trial took a major turn Wednesday after the judge who presided over his murder trial was removed from the post-trial proceedings.
Visiting Judge Sid Harle granted the defense request to recuse Collin County Judge John Roach Jr. Anthony’s attorneys argued that Roach’s public comments following the conviction raised questions about whether he could remain impartial while considering the motion for a new trial. Harle ruled that the legal standard for recusal had been met.
Retired District Judge Michael Chitty has now been assigned to the case. He is expected to preside over Anthony’s motion for a new trial, which remains scheduled for Thursday morning despite briefly appearing as canceled on the court’s online calendar.
Anthony has not been granted a new trial. Wednesday’s ruling only determines which judge will decide that request.
Karmelo Anthony Seeks New Trial as Judge Recusal Hearing Approaches
By Investigative Reporter Tammy Rose
Karmelo Anthony is heading back to a Collin County courtroom just months after a jury convicted him of murder.
New court records show two major hearings scheduled for next week.
First, a judge will hear Anthony’s request to remove the judge who oversaw his murder trial.
Then, the court will take up Anthony’s request for a new trial.
The hearings come after a jury sentenced Anthony to 35 years in prison for the killing of 17-year-old Austin Metcalf.
Karmelo Anthony Recusal Hearing Set for August 19
Collin County court records show a hearing on Anthony’s motion to recuse is set for August 19, 2026, at 9 a.m.
The hearing will take place in the 494th District Courtroom at the Collin County Courthouse.
Court records list Judge Harle as the presiding judge for the hearing.
Anthony’s murder case originally went before Judge John R. Roach Jr. in the 296th District Court.
The defense now wants Roach removed from the post-trial proceedings.
The court will consider that request before it addresses Anthony’s bid for a new trial.
Motion for New Trial Hearing Set for August 20
The next major hearing is scheduled for August 20, 2026, at 9 a.m.
That hearing will focus on Anthony’s motion for a new trial.
Court records currently list the judge and courtroom as pending.
The two hearings could play a major role in what happens next.
Anthony’s attorneys want the court to overturn his conviction and give him another trial.
Anthony Convicted in Austin Metcalf Killing
The case began after a confrontation at a high school track meet in Frisco on April 2, 2025.
Anthony was 17 at the time.
Prosecutors accused him of fatally stabbing Austin Metcalf, 17, during the confrontation.
Anthony admitted that he stabbed Metcalf but argued that he acted in self-defense.
The case later went before a Collin County jury.
On June 9, 2026, jurors found Anthony guilty of murder.
The jury then sentenced him to 35 years in prison.
Court Records Show Case Is Under Appeal
The Collin County court system now lists Anthony’s case status as “Appealed.”
The case number is 296-83565-2025.
The online docket contains more than 300 case events.
Recent entries include an August 10 subpoena and the two upcoming hearings.
The appeal and new-trial effort mean the legal fight is far from over.
Why the Recusal Hearing Matters
The August 19 hearing comes first for a reason.
Anthony’s attorneys want another judge to handle the next stage of the case.
A ruling on that request could determine who hears the motion for a new trial.
That makes the recusal hearing an important step before the court considers whether Anthony should receive another trial.
Media Access Planned for August 19 Hearing
Collin County expects significant media and public interest in the hearings.
The county says only nine credentialed media seats will be available inside the courtroom for the August 19 hearing.
However, officials also plan to provide an overflow room with a video feed from the courtroom.
The county expects to release additional information about the August 20 hearing after the recusal hearing ends.
What Happens Next in the Karmelo Anthony Case?
The next two dates will be important.
August 19: Hearing on the motion to recuse.
August 20: Hearing on the motion for a new trial.
If the defense succeeds in its effort for a new trial, the case could return to a courtroom before another jury.
If the court rejects the request, Anthony can continue challenging his conviction through the appeals process.
Investigative Reporter Tammy Rose will continue reviewing the court record as new filings and orders become available.
Source
Collin County District Court records and the Collin County Public Information Office.
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