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 Commentary:
Family Friendly Jury Duty Bill in Michigan House Judiciary
Committee
Pamela Pilch, Saline, Michigan,
November 7, 2003
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http://www.bridges4kids.org.
Dear Michigan
Parents and Caregivers:
I am a Michigan mom (Saline) who is trying to get state
legislation passed to permit parents and guardians of young
children (4 and under) who care for their children at least
part-time in the home during the normal business week the option
to postpone jury duty. At present, a parent's ability to
postpone serving on a jury is dependent on the discretion of
court officials, even if the mom is breastfeeding. In addition
to parents of young children, parents of special needs children
of all ages have no legislative protection in Michigan should
they be called to serve. While House Bill 4455 in its present
form would not offer relief to parents of older children, this
might be an avenue of advocacy in the future.
House Bill 4455 (permitting full- and part-time parents and
guardians of children under the age of 4 who care for the child
at home at least 20 hours, Monday through Friday, 9 - 5 the
OPTION to defer jury duty) is currently under advisement in the
House Judiciary Committee. I have included a short report below.
If anyone would like to be updated further on this legislation,
please have them contact me at
PILCHJOHN6@aol.com.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Pamela H. Pilch
Saline, MI
Family Friendly Jury Duty Legislation in Michigan
House Bill 4455, permitting full- and part-time at-home
caregivers of young children to postpone jury duty in state
court, is under consideration by the Michigan House Judiciary
Committee. The Committee heard testimony on the bill on Tuesday,
October 14. More than 25 supporters attended the hearing, with
14 speaking in support.
Among those testifying in support were Ann Arbor La Leche League
Leader Pam Pilch, the constitutent who initiated the
legislation, Dr. Mari Douma, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics,
Michigan State University, and Susie Scheiwe, RN, MBA, IBCLC,
Director of Childbirth Education at Hutzel Hostpital, Detroit.
Several other speakers from around the state testified about
courts' refusal to grant them postponements while caring for
young children, including one mother of a two-year-old who was
given a 30 day jail sentence when she arrived at the court
accompanied by her child.
One speaker, a representative of the Muskegon County court
system, opposed the bill.
Legislators on the Committee reacted favorably to the bill and
plan to vote on whether to send it to the full House in late
October. Letters, calls and e-mails in support continue to be
important. Supporters can e-mail House Judiciary Chairman
Representative Jim Howell,
jhowell@house.mi.gov, and the bill's sponsor, Representative
Gene DeRossett,
Dist052@house.mi.gov.
This legislation is endorsed by the Michigan Chapter of the
American Academy of Pediatrics, La Leche League of Michigan, the
Michigan Association of Lactation Consultants, the Michigan
Breastfeeding Network (including representatives of WIC and MSU),
the Michigan Midwives' Association, Lamaze International, the
BirthNetwork, and the Family and Home Network.
More information about the issue of family friendly jury duty in
Michigan and nationwide can be found at:
http://www.familyfriendlyjuryduty.org/
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