Parker’s Law now in effect, exempting nursing moms from jury duty in Alabama

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC) - Parker’s Law is now in effect. As of Wednesday, Oct. 1, nursing mothers are exempt from serving on jury duty in Alabama.

One of the bill’s sponsors said it is a big win for nursing moms.

“This bill passed as fast as any as I have ever seen,” said Rep. Susan DuBose.

The law stems from a story WBRC has followed all year: a breastfeeding mom was threatened with DHR involvement for bringing her 3-month-old baby to the Jefferson County Courthouse.

From that viral post on Facebook with 1,500 shares to a state law in only nine months.

Kandace Brown started the movement. She’s a mom of five from Morris and said she was made to feel guilty for bringing her exclusively breastfed infant to jury duty after explaining multiple times to multiple authorities for multiple weeks that she wouldn’t be able to leave her baby at home.

Because of public outcry from her post, the Alabama Supreme Court issued an administrative order excusing nursing mothers of infants from jury duty only four days after the incident.

Public outcry from the post launched a bill into the legislative session fast, and now, Parker’s law - named after baby Parker - is officially law.

“We did not want another mom to have to experience what Kandace Brown experienced, so to have this codified into law, it just clarifies so that all of our judges from the top of the state to the bottom of the state are going to be on the same page,” explained Rep. DuBose.

The law reads that a nursing mother must provide proof to the courts, like a note from the doctor, that she is breastfeeding. She will then be exempt from jury service for 24 months.

Get news alerts in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store or subscribe to our email newsletter here.