TRENTON, N.J. — Nursing mothers with infants under one year old would be exempt from jury duty under a bill approved by the New Jersey Assembly Judiciary Committee on May 20.
Senate Bill No. 2236 seeks to amend state law to specifically exempt women who are breastfeeding or expressing milk during the first year of their infant’s life from being required to serve on a jury. Current law does not provide an explicit exemption for nursing mothers, despite existing allowances for other personal hardships and service-based exclusions.
Existing statutory exemptions in New Jersey include individuals over 75 years old, those who have served on a jury within the past three years, and people facing long-term hardships due to medical or financial conditions. Members of volunteer emergency services and teachers during a school term are also covered under certain conditions.
Supporters of the bill argue that the change will help reduce undue stress on new mothers and better support early child development by allowing uninterrupted care and feeding during an infant’s first year.
The bill aims to close a gap in jury service policy that has presented logistical and physical challenges for mothers trying to balance civic responsibilities with newborn care.
If enacted, the exemption would offer legal protection for nursing mothers opting out of jury service without needing to claim general hardship.
Key Points
- NJ bill exempts nursing mothers from jury duty during a child’s first year.
- Current law lacks specific protections for breastfeeding mothers.
- The bill adds to existing exemptions for age, prior service, and severe hardship.
