Norton Introduces Bill to Allow Breastfeeding Mothers to be Excused from Jury Duty

WASHINGTON, D.C.– Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today introduced the Breastfeeding Mothers Jury Duty Exclusion Act, which would allow breastfeeding mothers, upon their request, to be excused from jury service in federal court and in the federally controlled District of Columbia Superior Court. Norton says a constituent raised this issue in a letter to her office. The health benefits of breastfeeding are so well-documented that Norton wanted to bring jury service in line with existing federal policy on encouraging breastfeeding.

"Breastfeeding has many well-documented benefits for infants," Norton said. "Mandating that nursing mothers perform jury duty service could deter breastfeeding and has negative impacts on infants, families, and healthy communities. This bill furthers my successful efforts to encourage breastfeeding – my bill to require federal facilities to provide lactation spaces was signed into law in 2019."

Norton's introductory statement follows.

Statement of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton on the Introduction of the Breastfeeding Mothers Jury Duty Exclusion Act of 2022

April 21, 2022

I rise today to introduce the Breastfeeding Mothers Jury Duty Exclusion Act of 2022, which would allow breastfeeding mothers summoned for jury service in federal court or in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia to be excused from service for the period they are breastfeeding upon the individual's request. The benefits of breastfeeding are well-documented, and breastfeeding mothers should not be deterred from breastfeeding by jury service.

The District of Columbia Home Rule Act prohibits the D.C Council from enacting any law relating to title 11 of the D.C. Code. Title 11 governs jury service. Therefore, this bill is necessary to provide this exclusion for both the federal and D.C. courts.

I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

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