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The Texas judge who oversaw Karmelo Anthony's murder trial says the teen "seems like a nice young man" and defended his decision to ban cameras in the courtroom.In an interview with WFAA-TV, Judge John Roach of the 296th District Court in Collin County said he felt no hesitation when he was assigned to the murder trial of Anthony, the 19-year-old convicted on June 9 of killing 17-year-old Austin Metcalf at a high school track meet in Frisco, Texas, last year."I'll take it every time. It's my job, it's my duty," Roach told the outlet. "It's what I was elected to do."The case has been marked by controversy, racial tensions and public demonstrations. As the murder trial began at the beginning of the month, supporters of both the teens' families gathered outside the courthouse alongside activists and online personalities, highlighting the intense public interest surrounding the case.In the eight months of preparation leading up to the trial, one of the major points of contention was Roach's decision to keep cameras out of the courtroom. The move drew criticism from the public and members of the news media, who criticized it as keeping the details of the trial limited to those who could fit in the courtroom and allowing online speculation to run rampant."It was an easy decision," Roach told WFAA. "I'll tell you why, my primary goal in every case is to make sure the defendant and the prosecution get a fair trial. Period ... I know I made people mad but I'm not here to make them happy, either."He said he tried to balance the "extraordinarily important" right to know with limiting the amount of influence over the proceedings and the jury."As long as I follow the law, I sleep well at night," Roach said.Asked about the verdict, which was criticized by those who defend Anthony's actions as self-defense, the judge said the jury reached the correct decision."They were picked based upon the law, they listened to the facts, it happened in this courtroom, and they got a verdict," he said.Jurors could have sentenced Anthony to as little as two years in prison or up to the rest of his life behind bars. They decided to sentence him to 35 years. Anthony is appealing the verdict."We believe there are several important issues for the appellate courts to consider," his attorney, Mike Howard, told CBS News Texas. "An appeal is the next part of the legal process and a right afforded every American."Anthony, who attended Centennial High School and has since graduated, was convicted of fatally stabbing Metcalf, a student at Memorial High School, during a track meet at Kuykendall Stadium in Frisco on April 2, 2025. Anthony has always maintained he stabbed Austin in self-defense.Prosecutors argued that the stabbing was an unjustified attack that stemmed from a disagreement over Anthony's presence under a Memorial High School team tent during the rainy track meet, the Associated Press reported. Defense attorneys contended that Anthony believed he was threatened and acted to protect himself after physical contact occurred.Roach had a front-row seat that allowed him to observe Anthony and his demeanor."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," Roach said.The judge, who has been on the bench for more than 20 years, expects to preside over one or two more homicide cases before retiring in about six months. He told WFAA that he'll treat them with just as much importance as Anthony's case."The parking lot won't be full. The gallery won't be full," he said. "But, we still have someone who's died and someone who is accused of doing the killing."Contributing: Anthony Thompson and N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA TODAY
