Archives releases verdict on women jurors
Records relating to the debate about women being allowed to sit on juries in the ACT are ArchivesACT’s September Find of the Month.
ArchivesACT said its research found that, in 1962, a motion was raised in the ACT Advisory Council that women be allowed to exercise their civic duty and participate in the ACT jury process.
“This motion would begin a 17-year journey that would require ongoing debate, political influence and two legislative amendments before women achieved equality in the jury process,” ArchivesACT said.
“Arguments ranged from the obscure ‘it’s all about the plumbing’, to the practical ‘women provide essential childcare services’ and the offensive ‘we wouldn’t want them to go into a wild flap’.”
It said the research found that representation of women in the court system was a notable issue, particularly in cases involving children or sexual assault.
“Arguments in the positive included the benefit of introducing a female perspective in court cases, encouraging all citizens to engage in their community and, of course, introducing the principles of equal rights,” ArchivesACT said.
“When the ACT Advisory Council met in September 1963, Councillor Professor Heinz Arndt kicked off the argument by stating that the ACT was behind the times, as four States already admitted women to jury service.”
It said its research found that Professor Arndt’s motion that women be allowed to serve on juries divided the room and “a healthy debate ensued between Arndt and the other seven Councillors”.
“One Councillor questioned a woman’s capacity to participate when they were so consumed by their domestic duties, stating that ‘we are attempting to impose something on the ladies of the city which I don’t think they would want’,” ArchivesACT said.
It said the motion was put and carried, and a letter recommending the amendment of the Juries Ordinance 1932 was sent to the Minister for the Interior, Gordon Freeth.
It was not until 1980, however, that being female was no longer a valid reason for not participating in the jury process.
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