"Rose is Rose" is a popular comic strip that features an average stay-at-home mom devoted to meeting the needs of her husband and their cute young son.

She seems content with her life. But every once in awhile, her alter ego-a hot motorcycle mama in a skimpy leather outfit-bursts out of Rose's imagination.

I don't know if King County Superior Court Judge Laura Gene Middaugh identifies with Rose as she performs at the Highline Performing Arts Center (PAC) in Burien with Choral Sounds Northwest.

But the roles that Her Honor performs with Choral Sounds are clearly outside the range of normal judicial conduct.

Take her first solo role in front of a large audience a year ago at the PAC.

Playing a member of the criminal justice team quite different from a judge, Middaugh was "Mama." As matron of a women's prison in the musical Chicago, Mama kept strict order by brandishing a long nightstick.

"When You're Good to Mama, (Mama is Good to You)" was Middaugh's big number.

Middaugh admits the experience was daunting. Before that, her only solos had been in small recitals before family and friends.

But she says, "If you rehearse well enough, the performance almost becomes a body memory."

Last month, Judge Middaugh performed in two very injudicious roles during Choral Sounds' annual spring concert in Burien.

Acid-tongued, has-been actress Vera Charles from the musical, Mame, is the kind of boozy character you picture standing before Judge Middaugh's bench facing a drunk and disorderly charge.

Middaugh notes the role was made easier by sharing a duet with friend Norma Sitton who played the title character.

Her scariest Choral Sounds part was a non-solo turn as a member of the Kit Kat Club Dancers in Cabaret.

The routine called for the dancers to swing their legs over the back of a chair.

"I was out of my league," Middaugh remarks. "I'm not a small girl, and I'm 57."

But Middaugh kept up with the younger but more-experienced dancers and created a hilarious character as "Helga," the "grandma" of the group.

She donned a wig, stuck a filtered Camel cigarette between her lips and, most importantly, copped a hard-bitten cynical attitude.

"It was hard to get up there but taking on a character helps," Middaugh explained. "You become somebody else.

"Everything about Choral Sounds Northwest is fun. You get to play parts that you don't play in real life. And you get to do it in a supportive atmosphere."

The audience also helps, according to the judge.

"Burien audiences are so alive and excited. They give energy to the performers," she added.

Middaugh is used to stepping out of her comfort zone.

After working for a decade as a hospital nurse, Middaugh quit to enroll in law school at the age of 31.

As an attorney, she specialized in family law.

"I quit as an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) nurse to become a lawyer because it was less stressful," Middaugh wryly commented. "But the ICU of law is family law,"

Then, after 17 years as a lawyer, she filed to run against incumbent superior court judge Jeannette Burrage.

From my dealings with Burrage of Des Moines, she seems like a very nice lady who doesn't deserve to be stuck for the rest of her life with a derisive nickname --"the Skirt Judge."

Middaugh was prompted to run after then-Judge Burrage ordered two pants-clad female attorneys to wear skirts in her courtroom.

Using the campaign kick-off slogan, "Don't skirt the issue, competence counts," Middaugh defeated Burrage.

So serving her second judicial term, happily married to state Sen. Adam Kline and enjoying her off-the-bench time with Chorals Sounds, does Middaugh have any unfilled ambitions?

She wants to be a dancing reindeer or snowflake in Choral Sounds' upcoming Christmas production, Middaugh admits.

Eric Mathison can be reached at hteditor@robinsonnews.com or 206-388-1855.