Judge Melville to Retire

Santa Barbara Superior Court Judge Rodney S. Melville-who presided over Michael Jackson’s 2005 criminal trial-will retire in October, the court announced on 8/21. He was appointed to the Santa Maria Municipal Court in 1987 and to the Superior Court in 1990, establishing the Substance Abuse Treatment Court for chronic drug offenders. Melville cited his former alcohol addiction as the impetus for starting the specialized court.