Arizona republican., 1922-05-27
Women Jurors

We had occasion few days ago. in some COM
ment the rejection of the claim of Lady Rhondda
seat in the English house Of lords, to speak of
the sex disqualification of women this country to
sit jurors in states where they had been spe-
cially qualified by statute. There is one state,
though. Michigan, where such statutory quafca-
ton is not because Of recent decision
of the supreme court in which it is held that
stitutiona declaration that inhabitan of the
state being citizen shall be eecor and entitled
to vote makes women electors within the meaning
the statute requiring to be drawn from the
electors, and they therefore qualified to perform
jury duty.
But this is contrary to all other opinions the
subject. The supreme court OF New York, in
action which involved the right of enfranchsed
to compel the board of assessors and the
commissioner of jurors complete the county jury
lists by including the of qualified
electors of the county, said: THE only claim made
by the petitioner in connection with her application
is that jury service is incidental to and part OF
suffrage and since by the recent amendment of the
state constitution, qualified to vote, they
must be made Jurors. The fallacy of this contention
is found examination of the history of the Jury
system since the adoption of the first constitution in
the state of New York. While citizenship has always
been qualification for jury service voter has
been included within the jury lists. The various
laws with reference to jurors show that who
were entitled to vote have been excluded from jury
service"
1t has been said that in some states butchers
are excluded from service in criminal where
the penalty may be death In murder trial in the
Middle West counsel for the defense peremptorily
challenged all prospective women jurors. His alleged
reason was that 1.-the records thus far in criminal
cases have shown that women jurors merciless-
much more so than men,
New York practitioner does not accede to this
opinion, but he holds to be sentimental.
inclined to be severe; others merciful AS general
proposition women inclined to be
passionate than They have shrinking from
inflictng penalties Generally speaking
should that women more inclined to be severe
in involving ofenses against children and in
that appeal to what may be called the maternal
instinct such cruelty toward the helpless,
oppression and similar offenses. Men would be
severe in cases in which appeal is made the intel
lect rather than to the emotions"
A New York judge said: "Back Of the question OF
women jurors, voters and women legislators,
women generally in public life, looms forth great,
indsputable fact, and that is that approaches
the problems of life with her and with her
head Woman will continue to be creature of inf
mite variety. So long she is a her
tonal will dominate her rational processes,
and she inspiration of romance.
poetry and long civilization shall endure"
This Daniel may have been foolish enough to
believe that he was fooling the with his pre-
tended compliment, but should like to him
thrown into den of feminists to see what would
happen to him. but would hate to undertake
lazy, warm day to count the pieces.