http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/99-00/bill/asm/ab_1801-1850/ab_1814_bill_20000831_chaptered.html

http://www.courtinfo.ca.gov/rules/titletwo/title2-6-23.htm

August 31, 2000, Sacramento--Assemblyman Ted Lempert (D-Palo Alto) announced that his bill to excuse breastfeeding mothers from jury duty was signed into law by Governor Gray Davis.

"The government should be enhancing - not impeding - a mothers' ability to nurse her child," said Assemblyman Lempert. "This bill is simply common sense, which unfortunately hasn't always prevailed in support of breastfeeding mothers."

Under current California law, breastfeeding is not protected as a legitimate excuse from service. Assemblyman Lempert's Assembly Bill 1814 would recognize the importance of jury service but instruct courts to postpone the jury duty service of mothers who are breastfeeding.

A constituent--Angela Ponzini of Menlo Park--who is being served with jury duty made Assemblyman Lempert aware of the glitch in the law. Ms. Ponzini had requested to be excused from jury duty because she was breastfeeding, but the San Mateo County jury commissioner informed her that "personal inconvenience" was not a valid excuse.

Angela Ponzini, the constituent, told Assemblyman Lempert in an e-mail, "I have been sick to my stomach for a week now since I have received a notice from the Jury Commissioner that I am not exempt from jury duty for the reason that I am nursing my infant!" She added, "I would like to see the Legislature begin to protect our nursing children and their mothers. Providing the best care and nutrition for my child is not a personal inconvenience."

"I introduced this bill because we need to protect nursing mothers. But, it also demonstrates how one individual can make a difference in our system of government," concluded Assemblyman Lempert.