BRITISH WOMEN JURORS.

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 46, 18 November 1929, Page 4

BRITISH WOMEN JURORS.

A new Bill is being put forward in England to alter the conditions surrounding women jurors, which are considered to be most unsatisfactory (writes Constance Clyde). As things are a woman can be challenged on account of her sex, and for this there is no redress. Such an instance occurred lately at the Old Bailey. A man was charged with an offence against two little girls, and his counsel challenged every woman that was summoned for jury service. He was asked whether this was on account of their sex, and this he admitted. “I regret that this can happen,” said the Judge, “but I can do nothing.” Women’s leagues are considering an enactment by which, if a woman juror is put aside, her place must betaken by one of her own sex. It is said, of course, that men fear the “vindictiveness” of the woman juror in such cases, but women have had far more reason to’ fear the "fellow feeling” of the man juror, who of late has shown sometimes extraordinary leniency .towards certain offences, because they arc now so much commoner than formerly. As regards the conduct of the woman -juror, she has won high esteem during the now many years that, she has,served, while the fact that there are seldom more than two women in any case among the twelve should reassure those persons who still feel that even in matters of serious import, woman will be led away by “intuition” or “vindictiveness.” ' '