 One fine, US $3,000, was, according to Melancon, retribution for what he said was the board member's violation of the court's desegregation order.Melancon was cited in one Fifth Circuit decision as having been "heavy-handed" and tending towards "over management" in his dealings with the parish school boards on the desegregation issues

In November 2009, Melancon was a visiting judge presiding over cases relating to the Staten Island ferry disaster in New York City.Melancon was diagnosed with stage-three breast cancer in 2003.