1984 in the case of People v. Jarka, et al No. 002170 Melinda Power represented eighteen protesters arrested for opposing U.S. intervention in Central America. Melinda, along with co-counsels, successfully used the defense of necessity on behalf of the eighteen defendants. The Lake County jury found the defendants not guilty of all charges.
In 1987, Melinda Power, along with co-counsels, represented 67 people who were arrested for protesting U.S. intervention in Central America. After a jury trial, the defendants were found not guilty based on the defense of necessity. Also in the 1980s, Melinda represented four demonstrators in South Bend, Indiana arrested for protesting the war in Central America who were found not guilty of all charges after a jury trial.
In the late 90s, Melinda Power represented 80 people arrested in Decatur, Illinois who were voicing their support for locked out Staley workers, including four nuns who were arrested while demonstrating their support for the workers.
Melinda Power, along with other National Lawyers Guild members, represented over 850 people illegally arrested and formally charged protesting the inception of the U.S. war on Iraq on March 20, 2003. All charges were dismissed. A class action lawsuit on behalf of the over 850 people either detained or arrested on March 20, 2003 was successfully appealed to the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals.
