Vote Sweeney

As a former paralegal and the wife of a former ninth judicial district court judge, Terrance Holter, I am urging you to support Diana Sweeney in her challenge to the incumbent judge, John Melbye. This judicial position is chambered in Beltrami County and primarily impacts those citizens. However, voters of other counties, including Koochiching, may vote for this position.

Six years ago, John Melbye, a person who had never practiced law, never represented a client as a lawyer, and never tried a case as a lawyer, defeated my husband, a person with 28 years of experience as a judge. It is important that you know that my husband won overwhelmingly in Beltrami County where this judgeship is chambered. Mr. Melbye won because of voters outside Beltrami who really weren’t affected by the outcome of this race.  

It is important to note that John Melbye was denied admittance to the bar for several years because the Board of Admissions concluded that he had not been truthful on his application. Then within a year of taking office Mr. Melbye’s actions in a case titled Naughton vs. Naugton caused him to be investigated by the Board of Judicial Standards. This investigation lasted 15 months and involved substantial cost to the taxpayers. It ended with John Melbye being called to appear before the board to have a discussion about the ethics expected of a judge. In my husband’s 28 years as a judge, not once was he ever summoned to appear before the Board of Judicial Standards. The same could be said for the vast majority of his colleagues.

Diana Sweeney is very experienced, competent attorney who has never had any professional ethical issues. Voters of Koochiching County, you have a chance to help right a wrong from six years ago. Please vote for Diana Sweeney.

Cindy Edberg Holter

Bemidji, MN