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On Tuesday, the Alabama House passed HB209. The bill, introduced by state Rep. Susan DuBose, R-District 45, would exempt nursing mothers from jury duty in Alabama.
The legislation comes after the story of Kandace Brown went viral online. Brown, a breastfeeding mother from Morris, Alabama, was forced to bring her 3-month-old daughter to the Jefferson County Courthouse after being summoned for jury duty. After hearing of Brown’s experience, the Alabama Supreme Court released an official administrative order excusing nursing mothers from jury duty, writing that “a nursing mother of an infant child clearly qualifies for the excuse from jury service.”
HB209, also known as Parker’s Law in honor of Brown’s daughter, looks to codify the Alabama Supreme Court’s order into state law.
Currently, 22 other states in the country exempt nursing mothers from jury duty or allow them to postpone their jury duty service.
The bill was amended on the House floor by Rep. Marilyn Lands, D-District 10, to add a requirement that the nursing mother must present the court with a birth certificate or other official document certifying the birth of her child in addition to a written affidavit when requesting exemption from jury duty.
The amended bill went on to pass the House floor unanimously with 80 members electing to co-sponsor the final legislation.
HB209 also has a piece of companion legislation in the Alabama Senate, SB76, which passed the Senate and is now awaiting passage by the Alabama House Judiciary Committee.
