Joan Orie Melvin

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Joan Orie Melvin, was born in Pittsburgh to a prominent western Pennsylvania political family. Her sister Jane Orie is a state senator.

She attended the University of Notre Dame, where she received a B.A. in Economics in 1978, and Duquesne Law, where she was awarded a J.D. in 1981. From 1981 to 1985 Judge Orie Melvin served as corporate counsel and was engaged in a private law practice, concentrating in civil litigation before she was appointed Magistrate for the City of Pittsburgh Municipal Courts, in 1985. She was then named Chief Magistrate in 1987 for the City of Pittsburgh Municipal Courts. In this position Judge Melvin established Pennsylvania’s first Domestic Violence Court.

In 1990, Judge Melvin was appointed Judge to a vacancy on the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas and later was elected to a full term in 1991. There, she served in the civil, criminal and family divisions. She was elected to the Superior Court in 1997 and won retention in 2007. She lost a bid for Supreme Court to Max Baer in 2003.

[edit] Suit Against "Grant Street 99"

Judge Melvin was plaintiff in the case of Melvin v. Doe (575 Pa. 264.), where she sued to uncover the identify of anonymous blogger "Grant Street 99," who posted allegations that Melvin had engaged in misconduct by lobbying then-Gov. Tom Ridge to appoint an attorney for a judicial seat. The case was appealed to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, where Melvin lost. ^[1]