The evening world., 1910-12-20
ALL Wonan's Court No
Better Than an All
Mans; Segregation a
Mistake, Is the Suffro-
gette Counsel or's Opin-
ion.
She Believes, Neuerthe-
less, That 1t Is High
Time for Women to Be
Permitted on the Bench,
and to Judge Men, Too.
BY Marguerite Mooers Marshall

BY Marguerite Mooers Marshall
"A man has beep passing Judgment
on women for centuries. 1t is high time
that a woman be permitted to Judge
men. And ] am perfectly sure that a
handsome man could not get away
with IL at a woman's tribunal. as
in courts presided over by men,
That's what Miss Mary Coleman. law
yer and s~uffragette. remarked yesterday
when / called on her with the new pro-
posal. backed by a number OF women's
clubs. that all the officers of the wom-
ms night court. from the magistrate
down. be women.
~ don't think An all woman's
cou would be q good thing.
| ~ don't think an all-man's court
10 any better.
The ideal court will exist only
when Justice has gone into part
nership. In this court there will
hs " judgss-ons q man and
n a woman Caoh will learn
from h other. And they will sit
Jointly and pass Judgment on both
mon and women"
Then you don't believe in s~egregating
the prisoners, according to the present
night court arrangement
Should Work Together.
II do not" she said firmly. II know
the ordinary argument. that the self
spect OF the women prisoners is pro-
tected. But how much dellcacy OF feel
Ing do most OF the poor things arraigned
there possess? II would show a great
deal finer consideration for them to
put a woman on the bench to consider
their actual welfare rather than to he
so scrupulous about banlshlng men spec
tators who really are Irrelevant factors
In the sit uation.
u dont believe In segregation OF
any sort. I think that men n
women ought TO work out their
problems together. But certainly
women are ~ competent TO judge
men ~ men to Judge women"
Il have heard two criticisms OF
women as judges. especially OF their
own SEX" l remarked. one person
says they would be too sentimental.
Another writes essays on 'woman's in
humanity to woman"
WELL. We can't be both things" Miss
Coleman replied. briefly. AS a matter
Of fact, I don't think we're either. I
believe that the best justice prevails
when head and heart work together.
and I think this excellent combination
Is found more often In women than IN
men.
Not So Easily Influenced.
"Eithsr . man 10 absolutely in
flexible and cold-bloodsd, or he 10
wishy-washily emotional. A Judge
and jury Of men rarely fail to be
influenced by . handsome, attract
ivs mi But I am equally posi-
tive that fascinating men GRIM
inals could WELD no such influence
over women on the bench.
"rOn the other hand, women would
undoubtedly and r~ightfuliy put more
heart into their dealings with other
and children.
a woman Judge would not dismiss In
droves the women brought before her.
with fines or so many months on the
Island. Each case TO her would be an
Individual case. She would look for
causes and motives, particularly with
the young girls and first offenders. She
would strive to reform rather than TO
punish. and that is surely the finest
aim Of justice,
Man to Blame, Too.
"Also. a woman judge would seek TO
fix the responsibility OF the man. \
man judge nearly always eyades hat. "
How do you think women would
80 80 Etsi 49,. L. NhA ,AA. 80. .
taking bribes?" | asked.
"A woman could mover he bribed In
anything pertaining to the home and It's
interests. There she would be adamant.
And on the whole. l think women rather
more conscientious than men. They are
certainly more dependable on the wit
ness stand"
why, II you believe in n woman
Judge FOR the woman's court, don't sou
approve OF having all the courts off,
GERS women"
1T would carry out still further that
false deal OF segregation. And there's
a very practical reason. some Of those
women brought In from the street IRE
perfect A~rnazons. n unless the women
attendants had been chosen with equal
care FOR their physical attributes he
court would be in a pretty pande.
nonium.
one thing more" she added. "and
that is that II would undoubtedly be an
excellent thing to have a woman on
the bench OF the Childrcu's Court.
There. too, she and a man should divide
duties and dignities.'
But even Miss Coleman admits thdt
this lying-down Of the legal Hon ana
lamb isn't likely to be of immediate or-
cuiuence,