WOMEN JUDGES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19847, 16 January 1920, Page 7

WOMEN JUDGES.

“I observe/’ said the olderly barrister, •‘ that the Sox Disqualification (Removal) Bill has been road a third time in the House of Commons. So we may soon find ourselves confronted with women as jurors and magistrates. Also, il 1. read the Bill right, it will not bo permitted to keep them out of any eivil profession—including, I take it, both branches of the law.”

'■fio I suppose,” the young barrister answered dubiously, “in fifteen years or thereabouts wo shall welcome a leading female King’s Counsel as a High Court judge?” “ reeisely. Women barristers in three or four years. 'Women judges in liftecn-years. Women jurors and women magistrates next year. I hope they won’t bo like the best of all women. My wile is an ablo and gifted woman, m.oro lit than many men to sit on the Bench. But she suffers from sex bias. iShe. would want to take the woman’s side m every case that came before her. rorhaps she would got cured of that in time, lint when yon have practised as much as I have, before malejudges with a sex bias, you will know what a handicap that is to the administration of just lee. There was poor old ■ , dead licloro you wtfre called, who thought all women were liars. There was , who would have given judgment and costs against George Washington himself il only a pretty woman did the lying on the other side.” 1, l know women,” the young barrister insisted, ‘‘ quite above such sex prejudices.”

. Let us hope they are chosen for judicial work. Likewise, let us pray that nc do not got the manv clover and brilliant women who make lightning ot cjji nrn.ctt!r from *1 taco.”

Don t onr prosout male judges often take instinctive dislikes to litigants ior no bettor reason?” ■‘And that is why wo want to guard against that'weakness in women. It is rather a distinctive failing of the sex you know. As counsel who depends on Ins briefs for a living I shold not liken a. particular woman judge always to hud against my client simnly because -a very likely thing—she‘didn’t like my tace. But to pass on. I see the Mill provides tor certain oases not bob" lit fur women jurors to hear. Wj,at about women magistrates and women judges?

“ I daresay they will he able to lookafter themselves. Besides you mjrrfit just as' well pass an Act shutting 'off certain section* of knowledge from women doctors.”

.“ * sce y°» are incorrigible. And since, my young friend, your professional life will see women judges and mine won-1. I hope your hapny forecasts will be verified.

—C.B., in “Tho Daily Alail.”