Selection of Jury Foremen as a Measure of the Social Status of Women

Abstract

A measure of social status was proposed which employed the ratio of available jurors to the number raised to foremen. It was hypothesized the measure might determine the status of a minority or subgroup. To ascertain the availability of information and to obtain data for comparison, a feasibility study was conducted with females as the minority group. It determined the proportion of female to male jury foremen elected in two Federal Court Districts in the Southwest, 1971–74. In 155 juries, women were elected as jury foremen one-fifth as often as expected by their number.