Rodney Scott Melville is a presiding judge in Santa Barbara County's

superior court In common law systems, a superior court is a court of general jurisdiction over civil and criminal legal cases. A superior court is "superior" in relation to a court with limited jurisdiction (see small claims court), which is restricted to civil ...

. He was the judge in Michael Jackson's 2005 child molestion trial, in which Jackson was acquitted.

Biography

Melville was born in 1941 and studied at San Diego State University and

Hastings College of the Law The University of California, Hastings College of the Law (UC Hastings) is a Public university, public Law school in the United States, law school in San Francisco, California. Founded in 1878 by Serranus Clinton Hastings, UC Hastings was the ...

, University of California."Biogs.com"
/ref> Melville, now living in Sacramento, California, became an attorney for the firm Melville & Iwasko and became a State Certified Specialist in Family Law. He served as a

Deputy District Attorney In the United States, a district attorney (DA), county attorney, state's attorney, prosecuting attorney, commonwealth's attorney, or state attorney is the chief prosecutor and/or chief law enforcement officer representing a U.S. state in a loc ...

in the San Bernardino County District Attorney's Office for two years. In 1987, Melville was appointed to the Municipal Court Bench in 1987. After three years he was promoted to the Superior Court. Melville retired as a judge for the Superior Court in 2007, having served 17 years.

People v. Jackson

In 2005, Michael Jackson was accused of child molestation by a 13-year-old boy. The case People v. Jackson, went to court and Melville was appointed the presiding judge. Prior to the start of the trial, Melville banned cameras from the courtroom, put a gag order on both sides and oversaw a three-day jury selection procedure.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Melville, Rodney Living people San Diego State University alumni University of California, Hastings College of the Law alumni Superior court judges in the United States Year of birth missing (living people)