photo of Madera's first all-female jury in 1918

Madera’s First All-Female Jury, 1918

The gender walls came tumbling down in Madera in 1918. The women shown in this photograph comprised the first all-female jury in Madera County. Charles Halstead was accused of grand larceny in Judge Conley’s court. District Attorney Stanley Murray prosecuted the case, and Joseph Barcroft represented the defense. After just three ballots, the women brought back a unanimous guilty verdict. (Madera Images-Bill Coate)

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