Jury summons while breastfeeding

[Geigerin]

I just received my first ever jury summons. (I'm almost 31!) I've always wanted to participate in a jury pool, and I believe very strongly in performing my civic duties. However, the date of my summons is the week of 1/10/11. Punkin will be 10 months old that week. She's 8 1/2 months now, and she is only just starting solids in earnest. She loves food, but will still be getting her nutrition from me.

I have a pump, and she will take a bottle on occasion when I'm gone an hour or so. But, my husband is starting a new job January 1st, and no one else can stay with her.

There is a field on the summons where I can request a deferral for personal hardship. Would this count? How would you word it? When would your nurslings have been ready for full-day separations?

I realize working moms do this all the time, but that's not our situation. And punkin really can't handle separation. She screams. And doesn't stop. And I don't get much milk when I pump...

Thanks!

[Teensy]

It looks like your state excuses primary care givers of children under 12, and nursing mothers, so you should be excused:

http://www.familyfriendlyjuryduty.org/JuryStates/JuryStates_files/page0006.htm

[Geigerin]

Thanks! I was just at that website, but I'm in Indiana, not Illinois. It doesn't look like we have any laws protecting stay-at-home or breastfeeding mothers. Bummer!

[Geigerin]

Also, it's city-county court, not state or federal. We have some wacky judges here (like the guy who would impose huge fines for anyone challenging a speeding ticket).

[ladyleah]

Hi there!

I got a notice for a county court here in NJ when my son was 10 months old. I wrote in the hardship section that I was happy to serve, but would need to get up and leave the courtroom at 930am and 1230pm to pump my breastmilk with no exceptions. I stated that this wasn't a "hardship" by definition- but something the court needed to be aware of.

I called the court about 2 weeks later to "check in" on my request and the disabilities coordinator told me that I was excused at this time.

I told them I was happy to serve at a later date!