Shocking story out of Maryland

[sheandaru]

Breastfeeding Mother Sentenced to Jail for Postponing Jury Duty

Ugh!!

[SinginMamaTo2]

OH PLEEEEEASE!!!! What is wrong with these people??:

[p1gg1e]

They sold me here:

Brian Frosh, Chair for the Maryland Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee, said the law would cause more people to try to postpone their duties, "If you start saying, we’re gonna excuse people for breastfeeding, you’ve gotta say ok to kidney dialysis, chemotherapy and all the other maladies that afflict the human condition."

Sorry , we know you have cancer but thats no excuse!

[St. Margaret]

But to get excused by the judge, you still have to go in for hours, at least in my state. What is she to do during that time??? I would probably show up with my baby and I'm guessing that'd put me in contempt, too... UGH!!! SO disgusting!

[mum21andtwins]

huh? they fined her for asking for postponing? I'm confused about this.

[NoliMum]

I can't believe he punished her for asking.

"If you start saying, we’re gonna excuse people for breastfeeding, you’ve gotta say ok to kidney dialysis, chemotherapy and all the other maladies that afflict the human condition."

Oooh, and that would just be OUTTA CONTROL!!

They can find another juror. Stupid stupid stupid.

[lovingmommyhood]

Originally Posted by NoliMum

I can't believe he punished her for asking.

"If you start saying, we’re gonna excuse people for breastfeeding, you’ve gotta say ok to kidney dialysis, chemotherapy and all the other maladies that afflict the human condition."

Oooh, and that would just be OUTTA CONTROL!!

They can find another juror. Stupid stupid stupid.

Don't you see the mayhem that would cause?! We can't let these people with illnesses get off easy!!

[racheloperasinger]

I hope the local media REAMS him!

[aaronsmom]

: That's ridiculous. I can't believe Maryland hasn't passed a law exempting bf'ing mothers from jury duty!!

[Ammaarah]

I was going to post the cancer/dialysis quote but I see I was not the only person shocked to read it!

What a joke!

[phathui5]

I remember them talking about this on the radio here. She asked for a postponement because of a lack of childcare. Her mom would have come up in the summer to watch the baby, but she couldn't do it right now.

Yup, found it:

Jett asked to postpone and serve during the Summer, when Henry would be older and her mother, a full-time teacher, could take care of him and his five-year-old brother

[nicolebeth]

That is crazy! In Massachusetts, you get one freebie postponement. I used that for when DD was going to be 5 months. I had to go back when she was 17 months--but, it was one day or one trial, and I wasn't picked. It is really shocking to read that a state doesn't allow at least one postponement.

And, even if you fail to show in Massachusetts, it's not even an automatic go-to-jail kind of thing. (DH almost forgot to go once, but just made it in time when I reminded him.)

[Ruthla]

Holy crap!

In NYS, you can be exempt if you're caring for a child under 5 and don't have childcare, whether you're BF or not! I'm pretty sure you can also ask for exemptions if you're seriously ill!

I'm glad I was never called for Jury Duty when I lived in MD!

[TypingMarie]

I'm astounded by this article. The quote about dialysis and chemotherapy is so absurd it reads like it came from an article at The Onion.

[beautyful]

double post.. sorry!

[beautyful]

Based on this article, I think Sen. Frosh was being facetious.

[Ammaarah]

Originally Posted by beautyful

Based on this article, I think Sen. Frosh was being facetious.

Thank goodness!

[nataliebassoon]

Wow, I don't know the state law here, but in my county, breastfeeding mothers are automatically exempt from jury duty- it's stated right on the letter when they call you up for duty and gives instructions for how to call to get out of it!

[rmzbm]

Why be concerned with hungry children when there's JURY DUTY to contend with? It's not like OTHER PEOPLE could serve!

Honestly, nothing surprises me anymore. :

[turtlewomyn]

I just went to Jury Duty yesterday (they didn't want me because DH is a cop though). When I first got the notice I could have been excused if pregnant or the sole care provider for a child under the age of five. Why don't all states have that? She would have been exempt under that it seems as well.

I don't think Florida exempts nursing mothers, so I wonder about that if I get called up again if/when I go back to work and am pumping for my next child (not conceived yet). "Excuse me judge, but I need a pump break!"