The thirty-five men and one woman serving as the jury during the Roland Pothier murder trial, 1924. WSHS - All rights reserved.

"From 1883 to 1887, women in the Washington Territory served as jurors just as they do today. But unlike today, their presence was a source of great legal and social contention. Critics claimed that allowing women to serve as public decision-makers in the state’s courts was a misguided experiment that violated the laws of nature, and would lead to dire consequences for family and society."

Read a pdf of Aaron Caplan's: "The History of Women's Jury Service in Washington."

Caplan, Aaron. "The History of Women's Jury Service in Washington." Washington State Bar News (March 2005):12-21. Available from ACLU of Washington.

Materials Related to Women Jurors

Emma Smith Devoe Scrapbook, 1910

Bernice A. Sapp Scrapbook, 1910-1913

Roland Pothier jury panel, 1924