Rodney Melville moved to Santa Maria for its small-town charm and rodeo, but ended up presiding over one of the most publicized trials in recent history — that of the late pop superstar Michael Jackson.
Melville, who retired in 2007 as a judge of the Santa Barbara County Superior Court in Santa Maria, was a guest speaker Saturday at The Valley Speaks event in Shepard Hall at the Santa Maria Public Library.
The monthly speaking engagement is co-hosted by the library and the Santa Maria Valley Historical Society.
Melville said he had handled many interesting cases in his legal career, but acknowledging that the Jackson trial was of greatest public interest, focused most of his talk on that case.
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