ANGRY JURY.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20483, 8 December 1934, Page 30 (Supplement)

ANGRY JURY.

K.C. ATTACKS WOMEN. “PREPOSTEROUS REMARKS.** Air. St. John Raikes, K.C., was judged by women. Judged and found guilty of making “preposterous remarks.” When women jurors at Derbyshire Quarter Sessions recommended a thief to mercy. Air. Raikes, the chairman, declared that women of the jury showed “sickly sentimentality.” He advised women “new to the job of serving on juries,” to “keep as quiet as they could” until they had gained more experience. More Humane. Then the women hit back. Miss Marjorie Green, secretary of the National Council for Equal Citizenship, said: “Air. Raikes’ remarks were preposterous. I consider what he had to say as a most unjust and improper criticism of women jurors as a whole. The value of women on juries has been testified to again and again by those holding responsible posi-' tions in our courts. “In any case, if the entry of women into the courts has made the work of these courts more humane, even in the slightest degree, their presence is to be welcomed.” Aliss Gertrude Tuckwell—the first woman to be appointed a J.P. —expressed astonishment at Air. Raikes’ remarks. “The last comment I heard on women jurors,” she said, “was that they were fairer and less likely to be moved by sentiment than men. Tt may be true that there are some women, just as there are some men. who allow their hearts to rule their heads. But I think women have l>een tremendously helpful in the courts, both as magistrates and jurors.”