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Women Jurors Will There Be More Verdicts Of... (Press, 27 March 1965)

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Summary: Women Jurors Will There Be More Verdicts Of... (Press, 27 March 1965)

For the first time, women served in significant numbers on juries at the Supreme Court in Christchurch during a recent criminal session, resulting in a notable spike in the conviction rate. Women constituted 26 per cent of jurors across 20 trials, contributing to an overall conviction rate of 88 per cent, a stark contrast to the average of 53 per cent observed in previous years (1960-1964). However, experts caution against drawing definitive conclusions about the impact of women jurors solely based on this session, as it will require several years of female participation to accurately gauge their influence on jury decisions. Within the six-week session, a total of 465 jurors were summoned, with women making up 32 per cent of that number. Out of 240 jurors who served, 64 were women, and there were only two all-male juries. Several trials saw defence counsel challenge multiple women jurors; in some cases, as many as nine women were challenged. This trend indicates a wariness among barristers concerning the potential influence of female jurors during trials. Moving forward, the upcoming civil session commencing on 29 March 1965 will maintain a similar inclusivity of women in juries, with at least 25 per cent expected to serve. During the last year, criminal sessions at the court had varied conviction rates, including a troubling case involving six youths acquitted of manslaughter, which sparked significant public outcry and led to efforts to improve the presentation and preparation of indictments by the prosecuting authorities. Additionally, evaluations from other cities revealed mixed effects of female jurors on conviction rates. In Dunedin, one accused was found guilty with one woman on the jury, while another was acquitted with four women serving. In Auckland, approximately 22 per cent of summoned jurors were women, yet this constituted a lower number who actually served. Wellington's session displayed a mixed result as well, showing a 60 percent conviction rate, a decline from previous averages. Overall, the participation of women on juries is engaging interest among various authorities, including the Justice, Police, and Prisons Departments, as well as legal practitioners. There is a prevailing belief that the presence of women jurors may lead to a less lenient attitude towards crime, although further research and time are needed to substantiate these notions.

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Publish Date:27th March 1965
URL:https://www.pridenz.com/paperspast_chp19650327_2_122.html