Breastfeeding moms called for jury duty might be able to get jury duty exemptions as the Pennsylvania House of Representatives “overwhelmingly” approved Bristol Township-based state Rep. Tina Davis’ amendment to a House measure last week.
The amendment is attached to a House Bill 2102 and would also provide exemptions for seniors 75 or older from serving jury duty.
Advertisements
“My amendment would allow a breastfeeding mother to provide a certified letter from her physician to the courts stating that she is breastfeeding,” Davis said. “The courts then may defer the woman’s jury duty for one year and extend the deferral for an additional year if warranted.”
Davis over the weekend said the civic responsibilities of jury duty should not be compromised by the biological demands of breastfeeding.
“It is not reasonable to require a mother to be away from her child for unknown periods during breastfeeding,” Davis said. “Fifteen states enable moms to be excused from jury duty during this precious time, and Pennsylvania should join their ranks.”
Advertisements
Davis said the amendment was derived from her H.B. 2210, which has been awaiting action in the House Judiciary Committee with more than 40 Democratic and Republican co-sponsors, a release said last Friday.
Davis’ successful amendment was attached to H.B. 2102, which would provide a voluntary exemption from jury duty for those 75 and older. The amended bill now faces final consideration in the House and from there would be taken up by the state senate.
