Julius Caldeen Gunter was born in 1858 in Fayetteville, Arkansas. He holds an LL.D Degree from the University of Virginia, graduating in 1879. Gunter served on the Colorado Supreme Court from 1905 to 1907 before being elected as the 21st governor of Colorado in 1916. During his governorship, he organized the Colorado Home Guard, the Colorado Wartime Council, and the Council of Defense to support efforts during World War I.

Julius Caldeen Gunter's political career reveals a unique blend of judicial rigor and wartime pragmatism, marked by his creation of the Colorado Home Guard and wartime councils. His tenure as governor during World War I showcased an unexpected convergence of military organization and local governance, suggesting a highly localized approach to defense. Despite his judicial background, Gunter's legislative actions during wartime hint at an ideologically agile stance, balancing regional interests with national imperatives.