The trial of Karmelo Anthony, accused of the fatal stabbing of student Austin Metcalf, is now in its third day of testimony. This case, unfolding in Texas, draws concerning comparisons to the infamous O.J. Simpson murder trial, particularly regarding public and racial tensions. Royal Oakes, a seasoned media attorney known for his role in advocating for courtroom cameras during the Simpson trial, highlights these similarities.
Oakes, who represented various news organizations during the 1990s Simpson case, spoke to News Media about the resurfacing of cultural and racial divides akin to those seen decades ago. “We’re witnessing a similar dynamic in Anthony’s trial as we did during O.J. Simpson’s,” he remarked, emphasizing the deep divide along racial and cultural lines that seems to be re-emerging.
The charges against Anthony stem from an incident where he allegedly stabbed Austin Metcalf at a track meet in Frisco, Texas. Anthony maintains his innocence, with his legal team preparing to argue a self-defense case. This high-profile trial has attracted significant public attention, reminiscent of the media frenzy surrounding Simpson’s courtroom drama.
Adding to the courtroom atmosphere is a sketch depicting Anthony alongside his defense team, as jurors scrutinize surveillance footage relevant to the case. This visual representation captures the tense environment as the trial progresses, mirroring the intense scrutiny seen in past high-profile cases.
A courtroom sketch depicts Karmelo Anthony and his defense team as jurors view surveillance video during Anthony’s murder trial in the fatal stabbing of Austin Metcalf at a Frisco, Texas, track meet. (Pat Lopez)
The case has sparked intense debate online and drawn supporters to the courthouse, with discussions often extending far beyond the facts of the case itself.
When asked whether the Anthony case is evolving into a broader conversation about race in America, Oakes said, “This case absolutely is going to hit so many hot buttons. The issue of race in America, the critical question of self-defense.”
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Demonstrators show support for Austin Metcalf outside the Collin County Courthouse in McKinney, Texas, on the first day of jury selection in Karmelo Anthony’s trial on June 1, 2026. (Derek Shook for News Media)
Oakes noted that public opinion during the Simpson trial often broke sharply along racial lines, with polls showing dramatically different views among Black and White Americans.
“And so you could see the same kind of thing duplicated in this case as well,” he said.
The attorney said the greatest risk in any high-profile case is allowing race or politics to overshadow the evidence presented in court.
“It is certainly possible that racial narratives can overshadow the actual facts in a case,” Oakes said.
At the same time, Oakes downplayed the impact of demonstrations and supporters gathering outside courthouses, arguing that Americans have become accustomed to strong public expressions of opinion.
Still, he acknowledged there is a point where activism surrounding a case can become problematic.
“There is a danger that public demonstrations, if they are just so exuberant, if they get so far out of hand, will start to influence people,” Oakes said.
He pointed to the aftermath of the Rodney King verdict in Los Angeles as an example of how public pressure can affect perceptions surrounding criminal proceedings.
Unlike the Simpson trial, Oakes said today’s debate is unfolding through a constant stream of viral clips, social media posts and commentary that can shape opinions before the full story emerges.
“Today, it’s so different,” Oakes said. “I don’t think you’re going to get anybody to sit down and watch eight hours a day of a trial. Instead, you’re going to see 800 snippets on social media.”
Johnnie Cochran, Robert Kardashian, Barry Scheck, F. Lee Bailey, Shapiro and Alan Dershowitz comprised O.J. Simpson’s legal defense team during his trial. (Sam Mircovich/AFP)
That rapid-fire information environment, he said, may make it even harder for the public to separate facts from narratives.
“The big mistake that people made in evaluating the O.J. Simpson trial is that they went in with biases,” Oakes said. “Either in favor of Simpson or against him, in favor of the cops or against them, and they didn’t have an open mind to see what happened.”
For Oakes, the similarities between the two cases ultimately come back to one concern: whether Americans are forming conclusions before hearing all of the evidence.
“The prime comparison between the O.J. Simpson case and this case is that people do tend to take sides along racial lines,” he said. “The important thing is that whoever is picked on a jury can convince the lawyers and the judge that they will be objective.”