Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1922-04-24
JUDGE PRESENTS
new COURT IDEA
Judge Thompson Tells At
tOrneys of New Obliga-
tons With Women
on Juries.
SPEAKS AT BANQUET
Wesley Martin Entertains
Members of Bar and
Wives.
SPEAKS AT BANQUET

The members of the bar must
assist In bringing about the
changes necessary to conform to
new conditions under which wo.
men now serve as Jurors.
There are certain kinds of cases
that ought not to be tried to mixed
]arles If present social ideas of the
sexes are to be maintained,
These were the two ideas laid dow
by Judge Thompson Saturday evenin
in an address to the members of IN
Hamilton County Bar association an,
tt.ir wives at a banquet and bushes
session held at the New Wilson Hotel
The banquet was given BY Wesley Mar
zig. who for many years has been presi
dent of the county bar association.
The banquet was served as a I
O'Clock dinner of three courses. While
Judge Thompson delivered the only Sc,
address. others spoke extemporaneously
and, with Judge Thompson, paid high
and deserved tribute to Mr.. Martin.
who has been u practicing attorney in
Webster City for 46 years. In point
OF service, Judge Kamrar is the only
member Of the bar who has been in
longer continuous practice than Mr..
Martin.
Walked Into City.
Mr.. Martin walked into Webster CITY
46 years ago from Humboldt and began
the practice OF law. At that time the
law firms were represented by Kamrar,
Clark l. Moulton; Chase Judge
Chase) \ COvil, and Pray 4 Burgess.
No man ever stood higher in this COM
munity than Wesley Martin. His in
til:ence on both young and old has al
ways been of the uplifting kind and
his work as a lawyer has always been
honest and high minded. At the close
Of the banquet Saturday evening,
Judge Kamrar rose and moved vote
of thanks to Mr.. Martin and every
person present stood. There were
thirty-two In attendance.
c. 4. Biernatzki. vice-president Of
the bar association, presided at the
meeting. Following the banquet, he
Introduced Judge G. d. Thompson.
Judge Thompson took for his subject
the new conditions that surround
courts since the advent of women as
jurors.
Lawyers Slow to Change.
Lawyers have an Unborn and natural
high respect for the founders Of the
American constitution. They are sworn
&c protect this constitution and their
education and their work gives them
high regard for law and order. Next
TO the Bible, the lawyer holds the con-
stitutiOn sacred. And SO, very natural
ly, lawyers are reluctant to make many
changes in the constitution. They scan
with jealousy any proposed changes or
innovations and they are slow to readi-
~ accept changes, once they are made.
Now, however, since the passage Of
the amendment giving women the right
to vote and imposing the duties of
jurors upon them, Judge Thompson
made a special plea for the highest sup
port of this amendment from the men,
bcrs of the legal profession. The
lawyers" said he, Ought to assist in
every way to bring about certain |
changes to conform with the new con-
ditions surrounding the new voter and
the new juror The court houses of
the country are not equipped to ac-
cOmmOdate the woman juror. The
members of the legal profession ought
to take the lead in such additions to
court houses as will give the best Of
accommodations to women. Jury
looms must be rebuilt to conform to
the changed conditions and every facil-
ity given to make il easy and COM
Portable for women to severe as jurors.
Mixed Juries.
Judge Thompson also expressed the
belief that certain cases ought not to
be tried to mixed juries. If this idea
is to be adopted, however, changes in
the law will be necessary. The judge
predicated his position upon the fact
that present social ideas as to the sexes
ought to be maintained. From this, he
deduced the idea that mixed juries
o, ght not to be permitted in the trial
of certain cases. His theory q new
one, yet from the attention given it by I
those who heard him Saturday even
ing, 1t is one that Is likely to be given /,
consideration as women
continue more and more to serve on i:
,uries. Ii
Tributes to Mr.. Martin. !
In closing, Judge Thompson paid a I
Ugh personal tribute to Wesley Martin
Who for many years has been an in G
piration to younger attorneys who a
ave grown up in this community. Mr.. i