JUDGES of the MT Fifth Judicial District

Between 1889 and 2017, fourteen judges served the Fifth Judicial District of Montana. This exhibit honors the public service provided by these judges to Jefferson County.

Special Features:
Judge Photos & Bio's
View photos and brief biographies of all 14 judges. Interesting cases tried by each judge are also presented. Examples include: the last legal hanging in our county, school funding, and disastrous dynamite explosions.

Courthouse Artifacts
A chair from the Jefferson County Courthouse is on display, compliments of Fred Bell. Formerly a courthouse janitor, Bell salvaged the chair when it was discarded.
​Thanks, Fred!  

Judicial Branch Info
Learn about the history of Montana's judicial system. From the Miners Courts and Vigilante 'justice' of the old west, to the territorial system used prior to statehood. 

When Montana became a state in 1889,  eight separate district courts were created. Jefferson County is served by the Fifth Judicial District, along with Beaverhead and Madison counties.

JUDGES EXHIBIT:   A Collaborative Project Created by Volunteers
Special Thanks:  Ellen Rae Thiel (Heritage Center); Paul Backlund & Jamie Guenther (JC Museum);
​and Dorothy Stout  (Beaverhead County Museum) - more below. ​​

PHOTO CREDITS & INFO

Header Photo: (top)
Judge Frank Showers,
seated at the bench, 1894
​Beaverhead County Courtroom - Dillon, MT
Courtesy of Beaverhead County Museum
​
Judge Frank Showers lived in Jefferson County (Boulder and Whitehall) from 1889 until his death in 1926. He served as a 5th Judicial District Judge from 1893-1896.

Photo includes three Fifth Judicial District Judges: Judges Frank Showers, Joseph Poindexter & Thomas Galbraith. 

Fifth Judicial District Judge Frank Showers (seated at the bench, center); Judge T. J. Galbraith (seated at table at left, 2nd from the right); Judge Joseph B. Poindexter (back row, 3rd person to the right of Judge Showers).

Thanks to the Beaverhead County Museum for sharing this rare photo!

Original Photo. Tap to enlarge.

Detailed Photo Description: BW053.22: First water suit in Beaverhead County in 1894. Standing L-R: Sim Estes, Unknown, Augustus F. Graeter, Martin Barrett, L. J. Price, R. Z. Thomas (Clerk of Court), and Judge Frank Showers (seated). Right of Judge Showers L-R: Unknown, W. R. Gilbert, W. S. Burnett, T. B. Craver. Seated L-R: A. S. Rife, Thomas F. Barrett, Ike Rife, Joseph B. Poindexter in background. Seated at table L-R: John Forbis, H. R. Melton, Judge John Robinson, Thomas J. Monaghan (stenographer in back), W. S. Barbour, R. B. Smith, H. J. Burleigh, Judge T. J. Galbraith, Edwin Norris, Judge William N. McConnell, Emerson Hill (back), and J. P. Murray.

THIS IS THE ONLY KNOWN PHOTO OF JUDGE SHOWERS!

We're looking for more, so please contact us if you have a photo of him.

​406-224-5106
​​5 North Main Street
Clancy, MT 59634

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