Judge Melissa Powers is a life long resident of Cincinnati, Ohio. As a child, she grew up in a large family. Her parents valued discipline, hard work, education, strong faith, and moral values. Melissa graduated from Mc Auley High School, the University of Cincinnati, and the University of Cincinnnati Law School.

Melissa began her legal career in the Hamilton County Prosecutor's Office as an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney in the Appellate Division where she argued before the First District Court of Appeals. The senior trial assistants took note of her excellent research skills and her persuasive oral arguments. They often requested Melissa to research and argue complex  trial issues in major homicide cases. As a result, Melissa was groomed and mentored for trial work. She advanced quickly through the litigation divisions of Juvenile, Municipal, and Common Pleas. Melissa tried hundreds of cases, jury and non-jury trials, ranging from murder, rape, major drug trafficking, felonious assaults, DUI, and other felonies and misdemeanors.

In 1997, she obtained a confession for an unsolved, double homicide that occurred in Cincinnati in 1980, from the white supremist serial killer Joseph Paul Franklin. Dateline NBC aired an hour long television show that featured Melissa and how she obtained the confession. She was also featured in numerous local articles, Cincinnati Magazine, Court TV, Discovery Channel, German TV, Paris and Montreal magazines for her work.

Melissa left the Hamilton County Prosecutor's office in 1999 to start her solo litgation practice. Her private practice primarily included criminal defense of adults and juveniles, domestic relations and civil litgation.   She practiced in Hamilton, Bulter, Warren, Clermont, Clinton, Mason, Fairfield, and Brown Counties.

In May 2006, the Ohio Governor appointed Melissa to Hamilton County Municipal Court.