Friday, August 22, 2008
Page 3
Crowd Cheers as Court Official Accepts Judge’s Proposal
By a MetNews Staff Writer
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Melvin D. Sandvig is engaged to marry court administrator Terri Johnson after she accepted his proposal in front of thousands of Los Angeles Dodgers fans.
Sandvig, with help from the “kiss cam” displayed on Dodger Stadium’s video screen, proposed to Johnson Tuesday night during the fifth inning of the Dodgers’ home game against the Colorado Rockies. It was a better night for Sandvig than for the Dodgers, who lost by the score of 8-3.
Appointed to the Superior Court by then-Gov. Pete Wilson in 1998, Sandvig was admitted to the State Bar in 1981 while serving as an officer of the Los Angeles Police Department after attending law school at what is now the University of LaVerne College of Law.
He then practiced in civil law with the department’s permission until his retirement in 1987 after 20 years on the force, and represented LAPD officers before the department’s board of appeals.
Sandvig told the MetNews that he and Johnson met in 2002 when the pair worked together to open the Chatsworth Courthouse.
He said he had not worried about making such a public proposal, but was concerned that Johnson—who he says is not a baseball fan—would still be in her seat at the right time.
The marriage will be the third for Sandvig, and the second for Johnson. Sandvig has five adult children from a previous marriage, while Johnson has one daughter from a previous marriage.
The pair has not yet set a date.
Copyright 2008, Metropolitan News Company