The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-06-06
THEY'RE ALL REAL MEAN
Miss Mary Philbrook Says in
Time There Will Be
Female Lawyers.

Miss Mary Phillbrook, the ambitious
stenographer employed in the law office OF
Messrs. Gaede, Mint1rn & Hawkes., Hobo
ken, whose aspiration is to become a full
ftedged lawyer at New Jerseys bar, is thor
oughly disappointed at the reception of the
intelligence that the Supreme Court has
thrown out her application. The informa-
ton was impaired her by Counsellor Min
turn, who received it straight from Tren-
ton. Miss Phillbrook had been in an expect
ant mood since her argument was pres
ented, and fully anticipated an appoint
ment. She had studied hard for five
long years and was conscious that she could
easily pass the examination required before
Hdmittance. Miss Phillbrook had been en-
couraged into believing that the Supreme
Court Justices would accept her applica-
ton, and ia therefore doubly disappointed.
MISS -pHILLBR0OK'S OPINION.
When interviewed by a reporter of THE
JERSEY CRY News this morning, she sighed
a little and said
sit Is only rumor yet, but 1 guess rumor
is right this time. Naturally | am disap-
pointed. Mr.. Minturn has done all he can
FOR me. have not heard the opinion that
will be filed, but Of course 1t would not do for
me to criticize such a body as the Supreme
Court. l hear that the Justices could ind no
reasons why q woman should be admitted to
the bar. think a woman's arguments are
as convincing as g mans and sometimes
more so. But | can do nothing OF course.
The only way ! can be admitted is by special
legislation. Have | any influences over the
legislatorsl Well, l don't know as to that,
and then, you know, there'n be differ
ent ones next year. 40 not
know whether | can have special
legislation made to order or not. I have
studied hard, and know | could pass the
requisite examinations. Had there been a
preliminary examination necessary | think
the result would be different. Other States
require it, But l think a woman will be al
lowed In the course of a few years to prac-
tice law in this State. It's bound to
come"
suPREME COURTS OPINION.
The opinion of the Supreme Court IN the
matter Is very brief. It decided that until
the Legislature grants the privilege to
women OF becoming attorneys-at-law, the
weight of reason aud authority is against
existence of the right, and the Court con-
ours in the opinion rendered by the Court
Of Massachusetts, in the case OF Leila y.
Robinson, who in June, 1881, as q citizen
of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts,
asked to be admitted to practice, and the
opinion was filed September Z of the same
year. This was the first application on the
part of the women iii Massachusetts, II
formed a precedent for the court of New
Jersey. lt was then held that the word
sscitizen,n when used in It's most common n
comprehensive sense, doubtless Includes
women, but q woman is not by virtue of her
citizenship vested by the Constitution Of the
United States or the Commonwealth Of Mas
sachusetts with any absolute right, indepon-
dent of Legislature, to take part in the
government, either as q voter or as an
officer, to be admitted to practice as an at
torney.
BY the law of England, which wss the
law of this country from the first settle-
ment of America until the American Reyo-
luton, the Crown, with all it's inherent
rights and prerogatives, might descend to
the woman or to the infant, but Under the
decree of the Queen no woman, married or
single. could take part in the government OF
the State. They cannot sit in the House OF
Commons or the House of Lords, or take
part in the administration of justice, either
as judge or as juror.