Judge John Roach Jr. is a state district judge in Texas' 296th District Court in Collin County. He presided over the high-profile murder trial of Karmelo Anthony, who was convicted of first-degree murder in the fatal stabbing of 17-year-old Austin Metcalf.
The jury deliberated for 2-3 hours before reaching a guilty verdict and sentencing Anthony to 35 years in prison. Roach has served as a judge since 2007 and plans to retire at the end of 2026.
With over 20,000 cases under his belt, Roach has handled a wide range of cases, including felonies, family law, civil matters, and child protective services. He is also the founder and presiding judge of the North Texas Veterans Court, which focuses on rehabilitation for veterans.
Roach has a long history of public service, including stints as a United States Marine, Plano City Councilman, and Adjunct Professor at Southern Methodist University and the University of North Texas College of Law.
He has overseen some of the most high-profile cases in Texas, including the trial of Brandon McCall, who was sentenced to death in 2020 for murdering a police officer.
