O.J. Simpson trial media attorney sees racial divide emerging in Anthony case
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As the Karmelo Anthony murder trial enters its third day Saturday, the attorney who successfully fought to keep cameras in the courtroom during OJ Simpson’s murder trial says he sees disturbing parallels between the public reaction to both cases, especially when it comes to race.
Royal Oakes, the California-based media attorney who represented news organizations seeking courtroom access during the Simpson trial, told Fox News Digital that the same cultural and racial tensions surrounding O.J.’s trial in the 1990s are resurfacing as Anthony’s case unfolds in Texas.
“We’ll probably see the same dynamic in this case that we saw in the OJ Simpson murder case,” Oakes said. “It’s a huge cultural and racial divide.”
Anthony is accused of fatally stabbing fellow student Austin Metcalf during a confrontation at a track meet in Texas. He has pleaded not guilty and his defense team is expected to argue that he acted in self-defense.
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A courtroom rendering depicts Karmelo Anthony and his defense team as jurors watch surveillance video during Anthony’s murder trial for the fatal stabbing of Austin Metcalf at a track meet in Frisco, Texas. (Pat Lopez)
The case sparked intense debate online and drew supporters to the courthouse; arguments often extended far beyond the facts of the case.
Asked if the Anthony case could lead to a broader discussion about race in America, Oakes said, “This case is definitely going to push a lot of important buttons. The issue of race in America is the critical question about self-defense.”
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Demonstrators support Austin Metcalf outside the Collin County Courthouse in McKinney, Texas, during the first day of jury selection in Karmelo Anthony’s trial on June 1, 2026. (Derek Shook for Fox News Digital)
Oakes noted that public opinion during the Simpson trial often diverged sharply along racial lines, with polls revealing dramatically different views between Black and White Americans.
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“And so you could see the same kind of thing being replicated in this case,” he said.
The biggest risk in a high-profile case is letting race or politics cloud the evidence presented in court, the lawyer said.
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“It is certainly possible for racist narratives to overshadow the facts in a case,” Oakes said.
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Oakes also downplayed the impact of the demonstrations and supporters gathering outside the courthouse, arguing that Americans have become accustomed to strong public expressions of opinion.
Still, he acknowledged that there comes a point where activism surrounding a cause can become problematic.
“There’s a danger that public demonstrations, if they get this enthusiastic, get out of control, will affect people,” Oakes said.
He cited the aftermath of the Rodney King verdict in Los Angeles as an example of how public pressure can influence perceptions of criminal proceedings.
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Unlike the Simpson trial, today’s controversy unfolds through a steady stream of viral clips, social media posts and comments that can shape opinion before the full story emerges, Oakes said.
“The situation is very different today,” Oakes said. “I don’t think anyone is going to sit down and watch the hearing for eight hours a day. Instead you’ll see 800 pieces on social media.”
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Johnnie Cochran, Robert Kardashian, Barry Scheck, F. Lee Bailey, Shapiro, and Alan Dershowitz formed OJ Simpson’s legal defense team during his trial. (Sam Mircovich/AFP)
The rapid-fire information environment can make it more difficult for the public to separate facts from narratives, he said.
“The biggest mistake people make when evaluating the OJ Simpson trial is that they are biased,” Oakes said. “It was either for Simpson or against him, for the cops or against them, and the cops didn’t have a clear mind to see what it was.”
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According to Oakes, the similarities between the two cases ultimately boil down to a single concern: Whether Americans jump to conclusions without hearing all the evidence.
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“The main comparison between the OJ Simpson trial and this case is that people tend to take sides along racial lines,” he said. “The important thing is that whoever is selected on the jury must be able to convince the lawyers and the judge that they will be objective.”
