Michigan Mothers Needed to Testify at Legislative Hearing on Jury Duty and Breastfeeding
March 15, 2007 by Angela White, J.D., breastfeeding counselor
Filed under activism, advantages of breastfeeding, law
Update: The Judiciary Committee unanimously recommended that the bill pass and that it be given immediate effect! As a Michigan mother I thank all those who testified before the committee. Now I just hope the Senate takes that recommendation.
Michigan Senator Gretchen Whitmer has introduced Senate Bill 275 which would provide an exemption for nursing mothers from jury duty. If enacted as written the law would state:
A nursing mother may claim exemption from jury service for the period during which she is nursing her child and shall be exempt upon making the request if she provides a letter from a physician or a certified nurse midwife verifying that she is a nursing mother.
The bill is scheduled for hearing in the Judiciary Committee on Tuesday, March 13, 2007, at 12:30 p.m. in 210 Farnum Building (at the corner of Capitol and Allegan). Michigan mothers interested in testifying at the hearing can contact the senator’s aide Patrick Crandell at (517) 373-1734.
As a Michigan mother myself I’m very happy to see this legislation introduced. This policy is already in place in some Michigan courts on an informal basis. I was called for jury duty when I was nursing my first child. I asked the court for an exemption and luckily the court was sympathetic. A friend who was not breastfeeding was not so lucky. She was merely given an extension to allow her time to find child care for her son. Frankly I think that the law should exempt all stay at home mothers of young children. It would be awfully difficult for a mother to arrange temporary full-time child care for an indeterminate number of days, and awfully traumatic for a child to be required suddenly to adapt to such care. It’s not like a planned transition to day care. I guess this is yet another advantage of breastfeeding!
I wonder if the law would apply to working mothers who breastfeed as well. After all, if you are a working mom who breastfeeds, then your job gives you time and a place to pump. I doubt the courts will allow this? (The court will recess for juror #6 to go pump!)
The way the legislation is worded it seems that all nursing moms are included regardless of whether they are working or not. It would be an interesting perk to point out to an employer who doesnt want to lose an employee to jury duty
Yes, it seems to me it would apply to any nursing mother — working or not — who gets the appropriate letter from the doctor/midwife. Hmm, I’m not sure an employer would see this as a perk (”Hire me, I’m lactating” LOL!) but hey, anything to counter the false impression that having to allow pumping breaks will hurt businesses!
I did have to serve jury duty while nursing, though my son was over a year old. The court was an hour way from me, and in the opposite direction from the daycare which was 1/2 hour away from me, so I still had to find someplace else for him to go. I failed to get an exemption for breastfeeding, but they did actually take breaks for me to pump.
I was recently granted an exemption for nursing from a Washington state court (Seattle). I didn’t get any trouble about it which surprised me (although Seattle is pretty pro-breastfeeding so maybe it shouldn’t have).
I agree, it should be expanded to include all stay at home moms of young children. Finding temporary care is so hard and frustrating, not to mention hard on the child!
Someone once suggested to me that the best approach is to exempt all primary caretakers – defined to include both caretakers of children and of incapacitated relatives (elderly parents, etc.). This would leave pumping moms needing a bill but I think this approach might bring in a broader constituency.
Jake, that does sound like a good way to do it. Add in a provision that requires pumping breaks and everyone wins!
I wish this legislation had been passed earlier, and I could have have avoided the awful experience I had! I don’t know if I am allowed, but here’s a link to my blog with my Jury Duty Nightmare:
http://princessharvey.blogspot.com/2007/04/my-jury-duty-nightmare.html
Angela, I’m so sorry you and your baby had to go through that! I checked on the status of the bill and it’s still in committee. Perhaps you could call the senator’s aide (phone number in the post) and find out how you can help support the bill. You can certainly can write to your Michigan legislators to ask them to support the bill:
http://www.legislature.mi.gov/(S(kb5d5t55y2im2h45vaeboq45))/mileg.aspx?page=SponsorSearch