State Supreme Court Justice Joan Orie Melvin’s preliminary hearing before District Judge James Hanley in Pittsburgh Municipal Court started yesterday.  A preliminary hearing is an initial hearing to determine whether there is enough evidence to proceed to trial.  Justice Joan Orie Melvin is charged with using her government staff and resources for political purposes during her campaigns for the Supreme Court.
 
 According to an article in the Pittsburgh Tribune Review, three former staffers testified that “they were expected to perform campaign work” during Melvin’s 2003 campaign for state Supreme Court.  Campaign work included distributing literature at polling places, filling out questionnaires for interest groups and newspapers, and fielding election phone calls.  One testified to being asked to forge expense vouchers in order to pay poll workers. 
 
The three witnesses were Lisa Sasinowski, Melvin’s chief law clerk, Molly Creenan, Melvin’s staff attorney, and Kathy Squires, Melvin’s secretary.  Sharon Cochran, an employee of former Sen. Jane Orie, also testified yesterday.  Justice Joan Orie Melvin’s preliminary hearing continues today. 
 
For more information, see the articles in the Tribune Review and the Pittsburgh Post Gazette.