Jury duty and BF

JLynnG86 · September 2015

I was sent a summons for jury duty starting in two weeks but I was wondering if the fact that I am breastfeeding could possibly get me out of it?

Has anyone else had a summons in the past and used this to be excused?

cwstebbins · September 2015

I also got summoned. Don't know where you live, but chances are if you just don't show up it won't matter. Yes, they do have the right to come fetch you (but let's be real, they probably aren't going to haul you back there with a baby if it comes to it), but they won't do that unless they actually need you (which is highly unlikely unless everyone else doesn't show up or there are a TON of people deemed unfit). I just chose to skip mine. Probably could have called and gotten it deferred, but since most cases settle or plead out these days anyways, I didn't stress about it too much and forgot.

ABubba · September 2015

If you work out of the home and are on "medical leave" currently, it's seems like they wouldn't be able to use you at this time. Not sure though, just a thought.

chrisaw · September 2015

I have heard that you can get excused from jury duty if you're breastfeeding.

keri0426 · September 2015

I had jury duty when I was six weeks postpartum, I wrote an email to them and said I was breast-feeding and I had other children that I didn't have a babysitter for and I was excused, I am in New Jersey

ecloho · September 2015

I was summonsed for Aug 1st, but due July 28th. I wrote an email & they excused me, but made me choose an alternative date before the end of the year. So I chose October 13th & just received my summons. Here in Colorado you have to call or check online 24 hours before your day to see if your juror #was selected or not. I am hoping my number isn't picked so I don't actually have to report. If I do, I am planning on advocating for myself & telling them I cannot serve on a jury because I need to BF my 2 month old baby, pump, & I don't have childcare. I am on unpaid maternity leave to be with my baby. (Period!)

jesicabrennan · September 2015

There is a spot right on the summons (in CA anyway) that you can check that immediately excuses you as a breastfeeding mother or the primary caregiver of small children. Is this not the case elsewhere???

Melis222 · September 2015

In FL you can check off you are caring for a child (not school aged) and you are the primary caregiver. Then, you are excused.

kristyn831 · September 2015

cwstebbins said:
I also got summoned. Don't know where you live, but chances are if you just don't show up it won't matter. Yes, they do have the right to come fetch you (but let's be real, they probably aren't going to haul you back there with a baby if it comes to it), but they won't do that unless they actually need you (which is highly unlikely unless everyone else doesn't show up or there are a TON of people deemed unfit). I just chose to skip mine. Probably could have called and gotten it deferred, but since most cases settle or plead out these days anyways, I didn't stress about it too much and forgot.

You can't just skip it. They will put out a warrant for your arrest. If you ever get pulled over for a traffic violation or in an accident or any case where they would run your record, you'll be arrested.

kristyn831 · September 2015

I was summonsed and called the hotline. They said that a letter from LO pediatrician saying I'm the primary caregiver and exclusively breastfeeding should excuse me. I have to check back to see if I'm excused that way, otherwise I have to show up and the judge should excuse me. But please don't skip it - it is a legal summons and you can be arrested.

klirwin82 · September 2015

If you don't have time/don't want to pay copay to get dr note, I'd just show up with the baby in tow. Someone did that when I was called and she was immediately released.

ecloho · September 2015

@klirwin82 I was totally thinking of doing that!!

klirwin82 · September 2015

@ecloho Do it! I would! I watched that chick get dismissed, then all the school teachers who would have to find subs, then the elderly people who said they were caring for their elderly spouse...so eventually it was just me and 13 others selected. For the trial they said would last 3 weeks. That ended up lasting 8 weeks. Ugh.

randa923 · September 2015

I've heard if you tell them you are breastfeeding then you are usually excused

julzy · October 2015

kristyn831 said:

cwstebbins said:
I also got summoned. Don't know where you live, but chances are if you just don't show up it won't matter. Yes, they do have the right to come fetch you (but let's be real, they probably aren't going to haul you back there with a baby if it comes to it), but they won't do that unless they actually need you (which is highly unlikely unless everyone else doesn't show up or there are a TON of people deemed unfit). I just chose to skip mine. Probably could have called and gotten it deferred, but since most cases settle or plead out these days anyways, I didn't stress about it too much and forgot.

You can't just skip it. They will put out a warrant for your arrest. If you ever get pulled over for a traffic violation or in an accident or any case where they would run your record, you'll be arrested.

Agreed. It's a very bad idea to just not show up.

JLynnG86 · October 2015

I was thinking that it would probably be a bad idea to skip it. I am too afraid of legal repercussions to do that anyways.

I wrote on the survey that they mailed me that I am a new mom who is exclusively breastfeeding my newborn baby.

I figure I could at least try using the baby card. If I am not excused before jury selection I am definitely bringing the babe! Hopefully she is extra cranky that day.

acciocoffee · October 2015

I would just bring baby. They won't make you stay if you have a baby!

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