MORRIS, Ala. — A controversy has erupted in Alabama after a breastfeeding mother was compelled to attend jury duty, sparking a community outcry and raising questions about the state’s accommodations for nursing mothers. Kandace Brown, a Morris resident and mother of four, was summoned to the Jefferson County courthouse in early January, with her 3-month-old daughter in tow, after her request to postpone jury duty was denied.
Brown recounted that despite her efforts to resolve the matter through the usual channels before her assigned date, she was met with resistance from court officials. On the day she appeared in court, she was accompanied by her daughter Parker, who is exclusively breastfed and does not take a bottle, making it impractical for Brown to arrange alternate feeding options during her service.
The situation escalated when a judge, speaking over a public address system, indicated that children were present in the courthouse and warned of possible involvement from the Department of Human Services if appropriate accommodations were not made for their care. This announcement was perceived as a threat by Brown and added to her distress.
Despite the contentious start to the day, Brown was ultimately dismissed from jury duty for that day. However, she was informed that her dismissal did not extend for the rest of the week, leaving her childcare and breastfeeding challenges unresolved.
This incident has shed light on the lack of legal protections for breastfeeding mothers in Alabama, who are summoned for jury duty. Currently, Alabama law does not offer exemptions or accommodations for nursing mothers in such situations, a point that Brown highlighted as both surprising and concerning.
In response to her experience, Brown took to Facebook to voice her frustrations and inform others about the gap in legislative support for nursing mothers. Her post resonated with many and caught the attention of state auditor and former legislator Andrew Sorrell, who reached out to discuss potential legislative solutions. Sorrell is championing HB369, a bill that aims to exempt nursing mothers from jury duty in Alabama.
Judge Shanta Owens, affiliated with the Jefferson County circuit court on the day Brown was summoned, later termed the incident a “misunderstanding” and stated that any similarly situated individual would be excused from jury duty. Owens, who identified as a mother and former breastfeeding mother herself, expressed empathy for the situation and assured that accommodations would typically be provided.
The lack of clear policy for nursing mothers who are summoned to perform civic duties such as jury service has opened a dialogue about necessary legal reforms and broader societal support. Brown has since become an advocate for this cause, inviting other mothers to share their experiences to gather support for legislative changes that would prevent future incidents similar to hers.
The story has touched on a critical aspect of public policy and parental rights, pushing for a reevaluation of how civic duties are balanced with the caregiving responsibilities of parents.
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