TEXAS — A prominent legal team, including Texas NAACP President Gary Bledsoe, appellate attorney Russell Wilson II, and civil rights attorney Brooke Cluse (Chief of Staff to Ben Crump), has taken over the appeal for Karmelo Anthony, the teenager convicted in a high-profile self-defense case.

The new representation signals an aggressive strategy that will likely combine traditional appellate arguments with broader civil rights considerations. Ben Crump, known for representing families in cases involving George Floyd, Trayvon Martin, Breonna Taylor, and Michael Brown, is connected through Cluse’s role at his firm.

Team Backgrounds:

• Gary Bledsoe — Longtime civil rights advocate and President of the Texas NAACP. In February 2026, a federal judge ordered him to show cause over a legal filing containing what the court described as a “hallucinated case citation” and alleged mischaracterizations, raising concerns about possible AI use. Bledsoe reportedly apologized and avoided sanctions.
• Russell Wilson II — A veteran appellate attorney with no known public disciplinary record.
• Brooke Cluse — Joined Ben Crump Law in 2023 after serving as a public defender in Harris County, Texas.

An appeal is not a new trial. Higher courts will review the trial record for legal errors. The jury’s verdict stands unless overturned.

The case continues to draw intense public attention, with both sides closely monitoring developments. Court filings and arguments will be key as the appeal process moves forward.