When did women start serving on a jury?

Answer 1

I live in New Zealand, and I only know the answer for New Zealand. We were the first country to give women the vote (in 1983 I think), and our laws are strongly based on British law, so my guess is that most other Western countries gave women the vote at a similar time to us or a bit later.

Short answer: In New Zealand, women could volunteer as jurors from 1942; women were called up for jury service from 1963 (but serving was not compulsory and few women served as jurors); jury service became compulsory for women in 1976.

Longer answer:

In New Zealand, common juries have existed from 1841 for every 'British' man over 21 who owned property, and from 1844 for every 'British' man over 21 (of good fame and character).

In 1942 it became possible for women to serve as jurors - but only if they volunteered for it, and if they were of a more mature age (by 1961 they were eligible to serve from the age of 21).

Women's organisations urged for jury service to be made compulsory for women, but this was persistently rejected (on the grounds that mothers of small children would have difficulty finding childcare).

Women's organisations petitioned the Government, and eventually some compromise legislation was passed. The Juries Amendment Act of 1963 meant that women were eligible to be called up for jury service just like men - however women were given an absolute right to have their name withdrawn on request.

The Juries Amendment Act 1976 made it compulsory for women to serve as jurors.

It wasn't until 1965 that Maori men (indigenous New Zealanders) had an equal right to serve on jury trials (before that they could only serve on trials where a Maori was the accused).