Jury Duty in NYC & bfing babe. UGH!

[Draupadi]

So I've been called for jury duty on April 10th- DS's 11 month birthday.
Do I bring him with me for a deferrment or should I just bring his birth certificate to prove his age and that I am still breastfeeding?
We breastfeed quite frequently, of course, and I'm afraid that if I don't bring him, I may get stuck there for hours with no relief.
Of course, there's also the fact that there's no better proof of me breastfeeding than bringing a breastfeeding baby!
Then again, I'm not sure if I can bring him with me. I know that sometimes they have strict guidelines about bringing children into court.
I live in NYC, by the way.

[menomena]

Was there a phone number on the summons? Call and ask what you should do. I bet you're not the first nursing mama called for jury duty in NYC.

[superfastreader]

You should have 1 deferment--look on the back of your card.

If you have used up your 1 deferment, you might be able to get an in-person deferment w/o seeing the judge. I once got one by showing up w/my bank statement to show that jury duty would cause a financial hardship b/c I was freelancing & had no paid leave. No work=no $. I'd bring your baby. I believe there are automatic exemptions if you are the full time caregiver of a small child, elderly person, or sick person.

Also, nothing really happens if you don't show up... they just call you again in a few months. I'm not recommending that, but I did forget to report once.

Good luck!

[veganf]

You should be able to defer for a year without even going in, usually via mail or phone.

[Makini]

Originally Posted by WilliamsMama

So I've been called for jury duty on April 10th- DS's 11 month birthday.
Do I bring him with me for a deferrment or should I just bring his birth certificate to prove his age and that I am still breastfeeding?
We breastfeed quite frequently, of course, and I'm afraid that if I don't bring him, I may get stuck there for hours with no relief.
Of course, there's also the fact that there's no better proof of me breastfeeding than bringing a breastfeeding baby!
Then again, I'm not sure if I can bring him with me. I know that sometimes they have strict guidelines about bringing children into court.
I live in NYC, by the way.

I live in NYC and have done Jury duty twice. There is so much down time that you'll have plenty of time to pump as long as you don't get called to interview for a case. They have a sign out sheet, so you can sign out and go to the restroom to pump. I would find a restroom on a different floor that has less traffic. Of course that's if you don't mind pumping in a restroom and have a pump. Once they call your name for a case they could hold you for 1-2 hours in the court room hearing the details of a trial. If they do want you as a juror they will ask you if you can commit to the days required to complete the trial. It could be a few days, a few weeks, a few months. At that point you can tell them your dilemma and they won't choose you. They're not mean. Everyone is very understanding. When you come back the second day, and you haven't been chosen, then you're done. They will send you home that afternoon or at most the following morning. In NYC they only call you to interview for one case. If that's too much a hardship, bring the baby's birth certificate and ask for a deferrment. If you tell them you're the primary child care provider for your child and a nursing mom, they won't hassle you. I think you can also bring your baby, since technically you won't be going into a court room unless you get called to hear a case. It's just that the building that you have to appear at is not the same place you request the deferrment so there will be some back and forth.

If you do decide to go for it, bring lots to read! Good luck.

Makini

FYI, I'm talking about the protocol at the Centre Street court houses in Manhattan. If you live in another borough then you'll be going someplace else.

[yamilee21]

When I got called to jury duty in NYC, all I had to do was send in a letter stating that I stay home with my child and have no child care available, along with a copy of the birth certificate. I didn't even really need to mention breastfeeding. If you work out of the home, even part-time, they assume you have child care, but if you stay at home, as long as your child is under school-age, getting a deferment isn't a big deal.

[Nan'sMom]

Call and ask what to do but I also think all of NYS has an automatic deferment for being primary childcare. I live in NYS but not NYC got one when I wrote in and said I was bf'ing and sent a copy of my 2 y.o.'s birth certificate. Don't use up your automatic deferment--you may need it later and it only gives you 6 months or so--not really enough time IMO.

Best of luck!

[didkisa]

Originally Posted by veganf

You should be able to defer for a year without even going in, usually via mail or phone.

:

I got my summons and called and asked to defer for a year. No problem whatsoever. I'm sure it's similar in NYC. DD was 10 mos old at the time, too.

[Pyrodjm]

My girlfriend reported for Jury Duty at the Supreme Court in Downtown Brooklyn with a birth cert. for her 11 month old and a breastpump. As she walked into thew main holding room she quietly asked someone in charge where she would be able to pump breastmilk for her daughter. She was sent to a room immediately where she received a letter from someone saying she did not have to come back for 2 years. She was in and out of the building in 30 minutes. HTH.

[ar2974]

I just got deferred for 2 years today (my daughter is 19 months). I work full time, but finish at 3 each day and was all ready to explain how I mind her from 3 on and nurse at lunch etc - they didn't need to hear any of that, just showed them the birth cert and they said, "see you in 2 years".

[MyBoyAramis]

I live in NYC and last monday I had to go into Jury Duty as well. This was my third time postponing. (The 1st time is the only time you can do it by phone.) I walked in with my son and went straight to the jury room. (Not the assembly room.) I just told them that I am a stay at home mom and he's exclusively breastfed. They just said no problem and that was that.

This was at the court house around 161st in the bronx. The one right next to Yankee Stadium.

[Draupadi]

Thanks, everyone, for your advice. I used the phone deferrment so I'm at least deferred until August. I'll be back at work by September and DS will be in daycare.