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Commonwealth v. Maxwell

Pennsylvania Supreme Court
271 Pa. 378, 114 A. 825 (1921)

Written by Salina Kennedy, JD

Facts

Maxwell (defendant) was indicted for murder. The indictment was quashed because a woman had served on the grand jury that had issued the indictment. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (commonwealth) (plaintiff) appealed, arguing that because the recently enacted Nineteenth Amendment to the Constitution granted women the right to vote, women in Pennsylvania should also be permitted to serve on juries.

Rule of Law

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Issue

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Holding and Reasoning (Schaffer, J.)

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A "yes" or "no" answer to the question framed in the issue section;
A summary of the majority or plurality opinion, using the CREAC method; and
The procedural disposition (e.g., reversed and remanded, affirmed, etc.).

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