Born in Wallula, (an unincorporated community just south of Lansing),[1] Kansas, Mellott received a Bachelor of Laws from the Kansas City School of Law (now the University of Missouri–Kansas City School of Law) in 1917.
From 1934 to 1935 he was a deputy commissioner of internal revenue in Washington, D.C.
He was appointed to the United States Board of Tax Appeals in 1935, serving until 1942 when that body was converted to the United States Tax Court, serving as a Judge of that court until 1945.
[2] Mellott was nominated by President Harry S. Truman on November 13, 1945, to the United States District Court for the District of Kansas, to a new seat authorized by 59 Stat.
His service terminated on December 29, 1957, due to his death.