Courts and Pumping

[HippieWannaBe]

I was summoned for Jury Duty here in Dallas County Texas. I called last week to make sure that there would be time, as well as an area for me to pump. The lady said there would be. I asked the guard at the help desk where the pumping/nursing area was and she told me I had one option, the ladies bathroom. I also had to wait till 12:30 p.m. before we were even given a break. I hadn't nursed since 5:00 a.m.

Then, I found that there were NO electrical outlets in any of the bathrooms from the 7th floor down. There was one outlet in the first floor bathroom, but it was next to the entry door. Everyone would basically see me topless and pumping whenever the door opened. I waited till we went back into the court to ask for permission to be dismissed. In front of 70 possible jurors, two bailifs, five attorney's, and the judge. I was mortified to stand up and say, "I need to go home to pump, because my boobs are about to explode and the lady I talked to last week was a LIAR and there is no where for me to pump my breast milk."

What can I do about this? I am SO PO'd right now!!!! There was another woman in the main jury room with a pump too. I know I'm not the first or the last to have this problem. I am drafting up a letter of complaint and hope to get someone's attention. Any advice on what to do from here?

[Meredith&Alexander]

You can't take the child exemption?

[HippieWannaBe]

I never thought that applied to me. The exemption reads, exempt if you have custody of a child under 10 years of age and must leave the child without adequate care to serve. I guess leaving him and not being able to pump is without adequate care?

[Meredith&Alexander]

I would think it could be read that way. I guess it's how you define "adequate."

[mama2peyton]

OMG! I'm in Dallas too, so that's kind of upsetting to me. My mom actually works at one of the courts here, so I'll ask her if she could get some info about who to write to.

[uumomma]

what did the judge say?
i am so sorry you had to go thought that. i have aways ( well in ca) just used the " i am the primary care giver to young children" and was exempt..

[purplepaperclip]

I'm in S. TExas and when I was called for jury duty here, even though my DD was in daycare I was still excused just for being a pumping mama. I had no problems at all.

[MommyofAngelBabies]

Oh, how horrible!! I noticed that many states have a law excusing nursing mothers... Hopefully that will extend to all the states! Maybe like someone else said above, A primary caregiver or similar reason could work. However, I would definetely write a letter complaining, especially since you were told in advance that there would be proper accomodations, and there were not.

[2goingon2]

I'm in Arkansas and had to go to court this summer for a speeding ticket. I was told under no circumstances could I bring my child to the court room. I was worried about pumping in a bathroom and what if there were no outlets, privacy, time, etc. I contacted my local breastfeeding coalition folks and was told that the court was right, I could not take my child with me. But, if feasible, my husband could be available with the babe for breaks so I could nurse. Not feasible. Then, I was told by one of the attorneys on the breastfeeding board that I should be able to take my pump and pump discreetly...in the courtroom. Since in Arkansas, bf in public is protected by law that pumping in public could be argued as protected. I was not bold enough but as it turns out, I wasn't there long enough for it to pose a problem. I don't see how I could have "pumped discreetly" either - we all know how much noise those make let alone all the tubes and what-not. I would suggest that if you have to go back to get there early and find the baliff and explain your situation to him or her and also if you can, the judge. I did find the baliff and told him what was going on and that I may have to leave the courtroom to go out to my car and pump. He was very nice and understanding and told me to catch his eye if I had to do that and he would make sure my name wasn't called while I was out. I would certainly try to get out of it all together though. I could not get out of mine since I was being charged with speeding.

[s&wmomma]

Our jury summons says you can be excused if you are breastfeeding your child who is under a year old. I got a summons when he was 2 and I still pumped once a day. I checked the box and held my breath and they let me go. I woudl have just pumped right there in court, though, out of spite, I think.

[HippieWannaBe]

The judge, who was a female, was very apologetic. She said that if she had known beforehand, she would have set everything up for me. She had to discuss it with all of the attorney's first and they all had to agree to let me go. Then I hear everyone snickering, like "Must be nice to have that excuse" or "wish I had your problem" from a man, as I was leaving. I mean, I made every effort by bringing my pump. And I have an old Medela that weighs like 10 lbs.

I was just so upset to know that I was not the only one to have ever done that. Especially since there was a nursing mother in my row in the central jury room complaining at 10:00 a.m. about already being in pain. I was really nervous to speak up in front of everyone, but I wanted to make a point, so that hopefully she would think about it in the future. I think I threw her off guard when I said, "And if I want to send a letter of complaint, who do I address it to?" I just can't believe that a court that size, with thousands of people in it every day, that there is not a lactation room.

[limabean]

Originally Posted by HippieWannaBe

I was really nervous to speak up in front of everyone, but I wanted to make a point, so that hopefully she would think about it in the future. I think I threw her off guard when I said, "And if I want to send a letter of complaint, who do I address it to?"

Good for you, mama -- despite the ignorant comments made by your fellow jurors and the sad lack of resources at the courthouse, I'm sure you opened someone's mind a little bit that day.