Breast Feeding Juror
- Thread starter Orleander
- Start date
superstring01
Moderator
why not?
Reminds me of this case
There was justified outrage about this and the rules were changed to prevent this (her being ejected from the house) ever happerning again
In your case the judge should be ashamed of herself. The judge should be fired for misconduct no questions asked, I belive breast feeding is protected by law in the US just like it is here
blame it on the lawyers.
they (both parties) screen prospective jurors.
a female, or male for that matter, should not be allowed to have children inside the jurors booth or behind closed doors.
if children are going to be a problem for you then you shouldn't even be serving jury duty.
Only one?
I recently served on jury duty in my state, and the written requirements explicitly stated no children to accompany prospective jurors to court. So I can understand the judge's ire at a juror appearing with a newborn in arms (or should I say "attached").
However, it is inherently obvious that mothers caring for their small children should be exempted from jury duty. ... or would the court rather risk impaneling a lactating mother (the involuntary milk ejection reflex in the middle of a trial, occasionally recessing court to allow her to express her milk, etc).
Besides the baby's health overrides the need for a lactating mother to sit on a jury.
The Honorable Judge Claudia Jordan below (the first African-American female judge in Colorado), currently presides in criminal court cases involving misdemeanors, and is apparently out of touch with the necessities of raising a child.
source
According to the statistics in the report, Jordan received low grades in demeanor, willingness to consider error in fact or law, and treating people politely.
However, it is inherently obvious that mothers caring for their small children should be exempted from jury duty. ... or would the court rather risk impaneling a lactating mother (the involuntary milk ejection reflex in the middle of a trial, occasionally recessing court to allow her to express her milk, etc).
Besides the baby's health overrides the need for a lactating mother to sit on a jury.
The Honorable Judge Claudia Jordan below (the first African-American female judge in Colorado), currently presides in criminal court cases involving misdemeanors, and is apparently out of touch with the necessities of raising a child.
source
According to the statistics in the report, Jordan received low grades in demeanor, willingness to consider error in fact or law, and treating people politely.
good point.
a good few of the men would certainly be distracted by some well endowed females titties hanging out.
let's not forget changing those diapers right when the testimony gets tricky.
basically is there a danger to the child? (a PHYSICAL danger, not a "icky" imaginary one)
Is there a danger to the mother? (a PHYSICAL danger, not a "icky" imaginary one)
Is there a danger to the court? (a PHYSICAL danger, not a "icky" imaginary one)
no then the law should protect the childs right to eat and the mothers right to paticipate fully in sociaty
Is there a danger to the mother? (a PHYSICAL danger, not a "icky" imaginary one)
Is there a danger to the court? (a PHYSICAL danger, not a "icky" imaginary one)
no then the law should protect the childs right to eat and the mothers right to paticipate fully in sociaty
yes. that's EXACTLY what courtrooms are all about, serious business.
it isn't a nursery, playground, 3 ring circus, or religious temple.
it isn't "just breast feeding", it's the distraction.
can this be compared to texting and driving?
I am in full support of a woman's right to breast feed, even in public places. I remember years ago when breast feeding was far more common in the U.S. That an area was established, essentially by breast feeding mothers theirselves, at the country fair. It was not segregated from the fair in general just an area with seating and shade apart from the general hubbub.
This issue in a court room has nothing to do with the woman's rights or the baby's safety, it has to do with the defendant's right to a fair trial. And while we can all voice support for the practice, it is also true that in public areas it still draws attention. In a court room setting that attention may at times have the potential to adversely affect the defendant's right to a fair trial.
While the way issues like this are handled is often less than the best, there are also times that women pushing an agenda draw attention for their own purposes. I am not trying to say that this is the case here.
In the end the decision must be made based on how it affects the court room proceedings and the defendants right to a fair trial.
This issue in a court room has nothing to do with the woman's rights or the baby's safety, it has to do with the defendant's right to a fair trial. And while we can all voice support for the practice, it is also true that in public areas it still draws attention. In a court room setting that attention may at times have the potential to adversely affect the defendant's right to a fair trial.
While the way issues like this are handled is often less than the best, there are also times that women pushing an agenda draw attention for their own purposes. I am not trying to say that this is the case here.
In the end the decision must be made based on how it affects the court room proceedings and the defendants right to a fair trial.
Thats a cope out excuse, im sorry but it really is. A jury of your peers, not a jury of men and unchilded children.
This sort of argument has been used constantly to exclude groups, women couldnt possibly give a reasonable verdict, blacks are unable rationalise in the same way whites are.
If you can forfill the basic requirements of a jurier (ie you have the mental capacity to do the job) then you should be alowed to.
Aparently deaf and blind people can serve quite adequately in the US on [COLOR=Blue""]juries[/COLOR] so why shouldnt mothers be allowed to serve
here is one mothers experiance with serving on a US jury while expressing milk for her child
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/normal/my-jury-duty.html
Concidering the laws (in the US) which protect a childs right to be breastfeed in the workplace and the mothers right to work i cant see how this could possibly even be LEGAL in the US. If a judge was breastfeeding they would have the right to continue to work and breastfeed so why shouldnt a jurier
K
keith1
Guest
Juries are chosen by the attorneys and are not an issue of "allowed to be", or to fit a requirement. In that vain, a breast-feeding woman would be easily excused for her caring sensitivities, as well as her prejudice against such crimes as rape, incest, abuse, etc.
No, it's about practicality. It's about the need to feed the child, and that it would be a distraction for the mother, and other jurors, in the middle of session, to call a time out, and go feed her child.
It's the same reason we don't have people in an iron frikking lung in the jury. PRACTICALITY.
ScribJellyDonut
Registered Senior Member
Well Asguard it's not really a cop out excuse. Would you allow a man with a severe case of Tourette's Syndrome to sit on a jury? I hope your answer is no, because it is a major distraction and does deprive the defendant from a fair trial. Now while you may have transcended your mortal body into an ideal world, the majority of us still live in an imperfect physical world. I'm sorry to say, but men are easily distracted by breasts - especially when they are laid to bare. It may not be as severe as an auditory distraction from the guy with Tourrette's Syndrome, but it's a still a major distraction nonetheless. There are plenty of citizens available to select from without having to resort to a nursing mother.
once again, you have people who are deaf and blind allowed to (infact encoraged to) serve and as (by law) employers are required to make alowences for breast feeding, there for a judge would be allowed to have her child breast feed. Hell there was a women breast feeding on the floor of the lower house in victoria (it was great to see actually). Acording to the artical i posted courts ALREADY make alowences for women to go off and express milk and there should be no reason for her to "go off" anywhere, if she feels comfertable doing it in court she should be alowed to. ITS A NATURAL THING FOR FUCK SAKE.
If she doesnt feel she should be doing it, feels embarised or feels her child would be to disruptive thats one thing, but if she is willing to do it and wants to do it then she should be encoraged to and she shouldnt have to hide.
(In memory of the nice truck-driver guy I worked with with Tourette's)
F*ck
yes.
Jurors should be taking notes, so as to not get distracted.
And it would keep the court reporter busy
Also thinking a drape of some sort could be arranged for the breastfeeding mom, so as not to offend any delicate male sensibilities.
A baby has no business being in a jury box FOR FUCK SAKE. Its not so much about the nursing as it is about a baby having to be kept quiet in a jury box.
Or are they supposed to keep interrupting the trial so the mom can leave to feed it?