Karmelo Anthony files motions asking for a new trial and the removal of Judge John Roach, arguing constitutional errors and judicial bias after his conviction and 35-year sentence.Anthony’s lawyers say the Collin County proceeding limited public access, prevented Anthony from testifying and excluded evidence and extraneous-offense testimony that could support a self-defense claim.The defense points to Judge Roach’s media comments endorsing the verdict, an expedited trial schedule and a jury with no Black members as grounds to question the trial’s fairness.A pro bono appeal team that includes
Gary Bledsoe,
Brooke Cluse,
Michael Ware and
Russell Wilson has taken the case while Anthony remains in protective custody at the
Wallace Pack Unit and any retrial could take months or years.