Judge: "The blondes are fickle"

In an attempt to mediate a dispute between two arguing attorneys over the composition of an all-male jury, Justice William Morris of New York's First District Municipal Court settled the matter by calling for a jury comprised of both men and women. Said the judge,

I think the best way to settle this matter is to call a jury of both men and women. I am sick and tired of hearing you men argue about the relative merits of jurymen, so I'll put a quietus on both of you by making up a jury of three women and three men to adjudicate this controversy.

This decision is particularly noteworthy (I'll explain why shortly). Upon looking across the courtroom, the judge continued

There will be no blondes on this jury either. The blondes are fickle.

Three brunettes were chosen to make up half the jury. One of them protested

Judge, I've got to hurry home to get dinner for my husband.

To which the court accommodated, saying

That's a very important duty, next to this and we will expedite matters so that you may perform your task here and at home.

The unabashed sexism is NOT what makes this noteworthy. Rather, this is an account of the first mixed-sex jury empaneled in the state of New York, occurring in March 1921. In and of itself, this is a fascinating glimpse into the history of the sexes. Apparently, blondes were at a disadvantage even back then.

See the original story here (pdf warn).