Family friendly jury duty is not something I ever found reason to give much thought to until recently. What is it? Well, it's a law that allows a caretaker, who is summoned for jury duty, to take a postponement to serve rather than be forced to leave their young child or person with a disability or illness. It's a good law and many states have adopted it to prevent new mother's and caretakers from being penalized.
There are some who feel that jury duty is such a civic duty that anyone who dares to ask for a postponement is anti-American. The irony is that some of these people have not been summoned in years or never at all.
I have heard the arguments against it but any mother or carer will appreciate the value of not breaking the law to postpone jury duty till a time that the one that needs them is ready to be left with others. I know many women go to work when their infants are a mere 6 weeks old. Some are heart sick about this but they need the income. Some are anxious to get back where they feel most needed, at work, they believe. A few simply leave their babes with a day care to go home and be with friends or go shopping. I can not speak for their needs but I can speak for Oona, until she finds her voice. She needs her mama right now and her mama is happy to put her first. Yes, she has others to care for her and if there was an emergency she would survive. But is jury duty an emergency? Is it a valid reason to tear an infant or small child from their mother, or a sick person from their main carer? If only I could stand in, or if Oona's daddy was called instead.
Perhaps I am too analytical but I see how the law to make family friendly jury duty is one we should adopt in every state. We should have compassion. In fact it's a law I assumed was already in place in my state and all others. Carers will make good jury duty members when they have time to focus on a case without undo stress of worrying about the one they left home.
No more penalties for those who need postponement. No mothers given a night in jail as happened in one case. No hefty fines. No more denials for a mother speaking the truth. Her child isn't her hardship, it's her first duty!
