The Washington times., 1921-02-27

vides for only man jurors sci
In most cities II has been found
that women are not barred from sit
ting a. Jurors. and II 10 believed that
the amendment to the District code
viii be eventually acted on by Con-
sress under the Harding Administers
tion.
Many women's organizations and
other civic bodies have sixnined their
intention of beseiging members OF
Congress to establish q Domestic Re-
lations court In Washington, similar
to that existing In other cities and In
which women will have the prsroga-
tive OF sitting as jurors.
In her amendment to the present
District code Miss Sellers suggests
that NO pefson shall be competent
TO act As Juror who IL not q citixen
OF the United States, q resident Of
the District of Columbia, over TWEEN
ty-one and under sixty-ive years OF
age. able to read and write and TO
understand the English language. and
a good and lawful man or woman,
who has never been convicted OF q
felony or q misdeamor involving NOR
al turnpitude- No person shall be
excluded from or disqualified for Jury
service because of sex. All statutes.
or parts OF statutes which would ex-
clude persons from jury service by
reason OF sex In any court OF the
District Of Columbia, are hereby re-
pealed. insofar As they relate to such
discrimination by reason OF sex"
NEED OF LEGusLATION.
In her recommendations to Attor-
ney General Palmer. Judge Sellers
calls attention also to the urgent need
of legislation providing for the en-
and for q suitable home and training
school for feeble-mi4ded persons in
the District, and also for . revision
of the child labor law.
"The Board of Children's Guardians,
to which under the law this court
commits dependent and neglected
children as we'll as delinquent chill
dren. Is seriously handicapped by the
lack of pbper institutions for the care
Of these children" states Judge Sell
lers. particularly the feebie-minded
and delinquent children"
Discussing the right Of women to
serve AZ jurors, former Judge Milton
Strasburger. of the municipal court.
declared that with the passage by
Congress Of the Nineteenth Amend.
ment women naturally were given
the right to sit as Jurors as the men
citizens.
TT is only common sense" said
Judge Strasburger, that women
should have the right. IL not the OBJ
legation, to enforce the very laws
which they help put upon the statute
books"
Continuing. Judge strasburger said:
Although 1t IL admitted to be 'ex-
-
privilege or duty Of serving on turies
only q very limited number of States;
and in most of these States, while
woman Is privileged to serve. she Is
not compelled to do SO.
PROGRESS OF WOMEN.
"Women in recent years have made
such tremendous and phenomenal
progress that It is now q well estab-
iished and recognized fact that woman
Is quite the equal OF men in CONNER
cial and professional life.
"Some jurists have urged the objec-
tion (seemingly plausible) that
women would be attracted more to
the men than to the case on trial.
or course, IL the male jurors were
young and handsome, there would be
reason for taking this objection seri-
cusly; but as most Of the men on
juries are OF middle age. intelligent
women would certainly not have
their attention distracted from the
very interesting evidence that 10 gen
orally elected during the trial Of
criminal and civil cases.
Recently . Western Judge repri-
manded q woman for wearing her hat
in court and for powdering her nose.
She was fined &25 for contempt of
court. 1t would be Interesting to
know whether the Judge was disap-