Judge John Roach Jr. served as the presiding judge in the high-profile murder trial of Karmelo Anthony in Collin County, Texas, has provided public comments on the high-profile case for the first time since it concluded earlier this week.
Anthony, then 17 at the time of the incident, was convicted of first-degree murder in the stabbing death of 17-year-old Austin Metcalf at a track meet in Frisco on April 2, 2025. The jury sentenced Anthony to 35 years in prison after finding no evidence in support of his “self-defense” claim.
While speaking with local outlet WFAA, Judge Roach answered questions about the jury’s decision and provided his own thoughts on the case. When asked whether the jurors reached the correct verdict, he answered in the affirmative.
“Yes they did because they were picked based upon the law, they listened to the facts, it happened in this courtroom, and they got a verdict,” the judge said.
Judge Roach on his decision to block any media from inside the court: to prevent further trauma or fear affecting the minors or potentially changing their testimony https://t.co/ZQix1pqfxZ pic.twitter.com/gF98D16qEy
— Adam Scott (@chefcascottccc) June 13, 2026
Roach also commented on his observations of Anthony during the proceedings. “He seems like a nice young man who committed a crime and he understands today more than any day before the consequences of committing a crime like he did,” he added.
The judge defended the overall conduct of the trial and his decisions, emphasizing that he was satisfied with the process and would not be swayed by external criticism. “As long as I follow the law, I sleep well at night,” Roach told the outlet.
“I know I made people mad but I’m not here to make them happy either,” the judge added.
One point of contention during the trial involved Roach’s decision to bar news cameras from the courtroom. He described this as an easy choice aimed at ensuring fairness. Roach explained that his primary goal was “to make sure the defendant and the prosecution get a fair trial. Period.”
The case drew significant public attention, as Anthony received widespread support from black supremacists and anti-white organizations. A number of Anthony’s supporters have engaged in racially motivated attacks and have threatened Metcalf’s family in the aftermath of the verdict.
