The Washington times., 1919-11-14
n. Y. WOMAN JUDGE
TELLS HER IDEALS
Says Erring Face Justice When
Arraigned Before Those
Who Understand.
Nv MARGERY REX.

BY MARGEhr f>H<~>.
NEW YORK, Nov. 14.-Women TO be
judged by a woman!
When erring woman stands before
the bench of stern Justice In 1uture
she will meet some one who under
stands her. who knows feminine psy-
chology, who will realize that when
the defendant halts in her story, she
fs NOT necessarily thinking up a few
lies to deceive the judge, but may be
merely trying to tell her sordid tale
as best behts the "lady" that even
the first woman feels herself to be.
MAGISTRATE Jean Norris will be sit
ting to Judge women brought there in
future. Appointed by Mayor Hylan
and sworn into office, Mrs. Norris 'ex-
pressed her delight not only at being
the first woman magistrate In New
York, but also in the great oppor-
tLnity this new position affords to
helping other women.
"Of course, 1 think IL would be fool
ish to say beforehand just what j
shall do and what my plans are" said
Mrs. Norris, who hasn't quite got used
to being hailed as Judge" Norris
'T have never believed in talking
about things unless had all the facts.
nor in giving opinions before hearing
both sides fairly. And I shall certain
ly hear all sides and every side of
each case in my court
The word psychology has been
much oyerworked, yet I want to say
that II is the psychology Of the femi-
nine viewpoint that will be the great
change in the women's court when a
woman is judge.
81 am very strong for women get
ting all they can out of their privi-
lege of citizenship and putting all
they can into 1t. am interested, too,
in Americanization work.
Probably when I tell you about my
people you will say I can call myself
a real American My mothers family
lived way back in Rensselaer, county,
and finally my great-grandparents
thought IL was time to make a move
and they came to Brooklyn when
was young. Fathers people have been
here for more than five generations.
80 am one of those persons that are
not supposed to really exist-a New
Yorker born and raised here who still
claims Manhattan for home"
Mrs. Norris was graduated from
New York University in 1909, took a
masters degree the next year, and
later took courses in sociology at
Fordham University. She is president
of the Women Lawyers Association
and member of the Professional
Women's League, was for four years
counsel to the State Controller and
organized the delinquent transfer tax
department
81 am very hopeful regarding nv
work in the Women's Court because
of the fact that women judges have
~ a l.
notably, Katherine Sellers, in Wash
ington. d. C., and Mary Bartelme in
the Juvenile court OF Chicago, and
others.
Il hope IL Is all right to ask said
Judge" Norris, who Is a most attrac-
tive turist. 'if my hat is on straight
and II look all right, because, ever
so many photographers are waiting
outside for me-"
Mrs Norris fought to a successful
finish the famous cases of married
women Manhattan school teachers
who sought leaves of absence during
the period Of motherhood. The most
prominent OF these cases was that of
Mrs Katherine c. c. Edgell, Erasmus
Hall teacher, whose plea for a years
leave of absence that she might bear
and read child" was denied by the
Board OF Education. =,
The appointment Of Mrs. Norris is
for a thirty-day period. and was made
to NIL the temporary vacancy caused
by the illness of Magistrate Matthew
Breen.
Under the law such appointments
by the mayor are limited to thirty
day periods, but are subject to re-
neval IL the cause for their making
continues at the expiration Of any
given period ....