Jury duty

[Tylersmom119]

I have an 8wk old baby and have just received a summons for jury duty. She will be 11wks old at the date that I am to appear. It sucks to think I might spend my last week of maternity leave in court. I plan to call Monday to see if I can get out of it due to having a new baby and EBF. If I have to go its fine as long as they can accommodate my need to pump. I really don't mind going but the timing is not ideal. Has anyone been for jury duty while BF? Did they dismiss you or keep you and accommodate your needs?

[gdiamante]

Many states exempt new moms from jury duty. You can look it up online for your own state. I'd have done it for you but there's no location info in your profile. **smile**

[fortressmom]

I have kids at home that can't be left alone, so I always get excused.  I would make it very clear that you have a newborn and no childcare.  That should excuse you:)

[Tylersmom119]

Google here I come... Thank you!!!

Quoting gdiamante:

Many states exempt new moms from jury duty. You can look it up online for your own state. I'd have done it for you but there's no location info in your profile. **smile**

[faith610]

I wrote a letter and said that I'm the sole caregiver and a nursing mom. I said that I couldn't afford alternative care and that even if I could, I would need to pump every two hours to keep from becoming engorged. :) I also sent in dh's paystub and a copy of my dd's birth certificate. I'm sure they loved my detailed letter, but I just got my notice of excuse in the mail two days ago! :) I live in NJ. 

[mommyjenn132]

In OK breastfeeding moms are excused from jury duty. :)

[WouldLove2Bpg]

In Iowa you are excused if you are breast feeding also. Good luck!

[MommaTasha1003]

Quoting fortressmom:

I have kids at home that can't be left alone, so I always get excused.  I would make it very clear that you have a newborn and no childcare.  That should excuse you:)

this... as long as u have a child in your care your excused... im bad, but i even used it with dd who is 5, she could go to my sisters for the day :p
even if u have a kid in school.. since sometimes JD can go pastschool time-may leave ur kid home alone.

[Happy2bMom09]

It depends on your state, but in my state you don't get an automatic pass. I work as a paralegal at a law firm, we recently had a two week trial and they made accommodations for a breastfeeding juror to pump. (My boss kept referring to her as the juror who had my "condition")

That being said, if they will not exempt you by just calling the Court and explaining your situation, it's actually not too hard to get off a jury. During jury selection, when they are questioning you, just find some reason that you cannot possibly be impartial. Even explaining that you are a breastfeeding mom and will be super annoyed if you have to sit on the jury, could do the trick, we actually chose to strike a juror once for that very reason. That's just my unofficial advice.

[collinsmommy0]

I called the number on my summons. The guy excused me....because he didn't feel that they could provide an appropriate place for me to pump. They 'only had a conference room' with no sink....the guy said it was unacceptable & took my name off the list.