WOMEN JURORS

Evening Star, Issue 21036, 25 February 1932, Page 2

WOMEN JURORS

A JUDGE'S ATTACH

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 ‘ NewsChronicle’). This time he 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‘Cardie’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 I administration of the law owing to the I predominant number of men on juries, I but they have contributed nothing, j They arc 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 bo needed to guard the interests of girls, but he thought men were better for the purpose. Women would often acquit a man where mien 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, bo remembered that the presence of women on juries allows for a corresponding number of men to attend uninterruptedly to their norma! business.” Sir Ernest Wild, K.C., the Recorder of London, says: “ Women jurors are a great adjunct to the administration of justice, particularly criminal justice.” In court recently Sir Ernest remarked: “ Women have as much knowledge as men whether children are telling the truth—perhaps more.”