WOMEN ON JURIES

Evening Star, Issue 20987, 29 December 1931, Page 8

WOMEN ON JURIES

BACHELOR JUDGE'S REMARKS .VIEW HOTLY CHALLENGED. Mr Justice M'Cardie, who has passed a bachelor judge’s judgment on such controversial issues as women’s dress, marriage and babies, has now stirred up another storm, says the ‘ Nows Chronicle.’ This time ho has given it as his considered pronouncement that women jurors have done nothing to promote the administration of justice. Women barristers and solicitors as well as many judges and counsel are challenging Mr Justice M’Cardio’s point of view—■ courageously expressed in an address to an audience of women at the Forum Club. “ Women,” the bachelor judge said, “ have done very little harm in the administration of the law owing to the predominant number of men on juries, but they have contributed nothing. They are attentive and careful, and often intelligent, but they are too emotional, too nervous, and too inexperienced in innumerable matters concerning human life,” Sometimes in murder trials women jurors fainted, the speaker said. Ho had seen them with white, strained faces, on the verge of a nervous breakdown. In certain cases it was difficult for a woman even to discuss the case with male jurors. Women jurors were supposed to be needed to guard the interests of girls, but he thought men wero bettor for the purpose. Women would often acquit a man where men jurors would convict. “As for civil cases, women jurors are quite unfamiliar with the methods and even the phrases of modern business. It must, however, be remembered that the presence of women on juries allows for a corresponding number of men to attend uninterrupted to their normal business.” Sir Ernest Wild, K.C., the llecordcr of London, says: —“Women jurors arc a great adjunct io the administration of justice, particularly criminal justice.” hi court recently, Sir Ernest remarked: “ Women have as much knowledge as men whether children jpje telling jhg truth—