When Melanie Gilbert graduated from Westminster High School (WHS) in 1992 she had her eye on the stage and a career in theater, but through the twists and turns of life she ended up with a career in law. Gilbert now serves her community as a municipal judge in Thornton and Lakewood and serves as a board member on the Westminster Public Schools Foundation. 

Born in Alabama, Gilbert moved to Colorado where her early life was marked by a passion for performance. At WHS, she immersed herself in theater and a capella music, and recalls that drama teacher Joanna Ramsey made a huge impact on her life. She also remembers the influence of literature teacher Mr. Hoke who inspired her to love Shakespeare.

High school was also a fun time around the Gilbert home with 5 siblings (3 of them triplets). “Our house was crazy all the time, especially with all the extra friends that were hanging out,” she said in a recent interview with What's Up WPS. Her parents had a motto: “Once you already have five kids, it doesn't matter how many more show up!"

After graduation, Gilbert attended an all women’s college in Missouri on a theater scholarship. A pivotal moment came during a scholarship audition, when legendary comedian Carol Burnett steered her in a new direction. “She said, ‘if you can see yourself doing anything other than the theater, that's what you should be doing.’ Gilbert called her parents and told them, "I don't think I should be a theater major anymore.”

Gilbert enrolled at the University of Colorado law School where ended up as a prosecutor– a job she loved because she was able to bring her sense of justice to the court system. After a stint in private practice and quitting her job to live in Spain with her sister for a time, she ultimately returned to the U.S. where she resumed her work as a prosecuting attorney and eventually became a magistrate judge.

Beyond her professional accomplishments, Gilbert values the relationships formed with young people in the juvenile system, stressing the importance of having at least one adult who believes in them. Judge Gilbert believes folks should give back to their community whenever possible, which is why she encourages volunteering and donating to organizations like the Westminster Public Schools Foundation.