Born in
Atlanta,
Georgia, Melton graduated from the
University of Florida in 1943 with his
Associate of Arts degree. Melton served in the
United States Army from 1943 to 1946 during World War II and attended the
Fredric G. Levin College of Law at the University of Florida, receiving his
Juris Doctor in 1948. He remained in the
United States Army Reserve with the
Judge Advocate General's Corps from 1949 to 1953 and became a 1st lieutenant. Melton was in
private practice in
St. Augustine,
Florida from 1948 until 1961. He was a
county attorney for
St. Johns County from 1959 to 1960. He served as a circuit judge of the
7th Judicial Circuit of Florida from 1961 to 1977. ==Federal judicial service==