Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1909-02-22
FRANCES FIRST WOMAN JUDGE
Nine. Clemence JusseIin is sworn In
20 Try Dtsputes Between Em-
Dloyers and EmDloxes.

PARIS Feb. 2.-(Special. 1.-THE pro-
cureur OF the republic invites Nine. Jus
selin to be at the Pgiace OF Justice on 9Th
January. 1909. at li:45 a m.
"Object To take the oath"
This prosalc notice Is quite epoch-making
in its way II may be stated without fear
OF contradiction that no woman--in France,
at least--ever received such message be-
fore. and unpretentious as II u.s. Il is yet a
proof that French democracy is steadily
moving along the path of social progress
and reform The femme-judge (the woman
judge) is now a reality. True. she may not
don the ermine or the scarlet robe OF
Judge of the civil or criminal court she
may not hear herself addressed by bud
ding counsel as "Your Honor" but she may
don a silk sash with a medal pinned
thereon and call herself a conseiller prud-
'homme, or, II she prefer 1t. conseilere
prud' femme.
The Conseil des Prud'hommes. or council
Of good men and true, is a court which sits
to try trade disputes between masters and
workers. Its headquarters In Paris are at
the Tribunal de Commerce, a handsome
dome-shaped building opposite the Palalse
de Justice. The court consists of three
patrons" or employers. and three work.
ers. who are to all intents and purposes ex-
perts in their several vocations- Five cate
gories of workers are represented: those
employed In the building trade tissues lin
cluding seamstresses, dressmakers milli-
ners, etc.), chemical products. metal work
ers and, lastly, those employed In trade
and commerce generally.
The questions which come before the
Conseill des Prud' hommes deal solely with
disputes as to wages or for dismissal with
out the customary weeks notice Up to
800 francs Cs60) the decisions of the council
are final Otherwise there are two higher
authorities to whom an appeal may be car
ried: firstly. the Tribunal de Commerce.
and secondly. and in the last instance, the
judge de Paix.
The first step toward the admission of
women to a voice in the settlement of
trade disputes was taken in 1907, when
they were placed on the voting register
for the election Of conseillers prud'hommes,
but the rubicon was not entirely crossed
until last autumn when they became
eligible as councilloresses themselves. Thus
1t came about that Mime. Ciemence JusselIn
was the first to have this honor thrust
upon her by the almost unanimous voice
Of her peers
Nine. Clemence Jusselin is quite a re-
markable woman in her way. She started
life as couturiere or dressmaker. and
for the last dozen years she has been uu-
remitting in her efforts 10 serve the tofIinR.
but only too often cruelty oppressed class
OF workers to which she belongs BY dint
OF argument and persuasion she succeeded
in organizing the dressmalsers into a syndi-
cate. of which she holds,the proud position
of secretary. Her headquarters are at
the Bourse du Travail. or Labor exchange,
where she is to be found every morning
with clock-like regularity, quiet, energetic
and business-like. watching over the inter-
ests Of the neediews sixefs -.
Such is the woman who, though barely
30 years old, has been singled out for
judicial honors, the first of her sex to
sit on the "bench" in France. The other
day. dressed in black, with a fur tooue
and algrette OF feathers on her head, she
walked into the first chamber Of the civil
court and took the oath with upllfted hand
at the bar:
II swear to fulfill my duties zealously
and with integrity and to keep our de-
iiberations secret"
President Ditte, in his imposing red robe.
unbent and smiled approvingly on the
business-like young woman, who, after
uttering the formula in a clear and steady
voice. bowed to him respectfully and passed
on out of the court