Gov Murphy signs bill exempting nursing mothers from Jury Duty

(WPHL)– New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy has signed a bill exempting nursing mothers from Jury Duty.

The new bill, titled S2236/A1992, allows new mothers with children under one year of age to request to be excused from jury service.

“Balancing the demands of motherhood and civic duty can be challenging, especially for new mothers,” said Governor Murphy. “This bill ensures that our jury system remains fair for all while being compassionate and responsive to the needs of new mothers.”

“By exempting nursing mothers from jury duty, this bill acknowledges the unique personal health and caregiving challenges that new mothers face during the critical first few weeks and months after delivering a baby,” said First Lady Tammy Murphy. 

This bill is being added to the list of 72 other bills Governor Murphy has signed in relation to maternal and infant health.

This also coincided with First Lady Tammy Murphy’s Nurture NJ initiative – a statewide effort dedicated to reducing maternal mortality and advancing equitable care among women and children of all races and ethnicities.

“Nursing a child in the first year of their life can be hugely demanding, especially as mothers find time to pump or breastfeed on schedule or cue. There has to be flexibility during this period for moms to feed their baby or build their milk supply,” said Senate Majority Leader Ruiz. “

“Breastfeeding offers numerous health benefits to newborns,” said Senator Stack. “This legislation will make the well-being of our mothers and their children a priority over a jury duty requirement they can fulfill at a more suitable time.”

“We have a moral obligation to support new moms, and that includes helping women who choose to feed their babies by nursing or pumping, both of which offer lifelong benefits to the child,” said Assemblywoman Speight. “By exempting nursing and pumping mothers from jury duty for the first year of a child’s life, we are working to ease one of the challenges faced by many women as they adjust to motherhood.”

“Civic engagement should never come at the expense of a mother’s health or her ability to feed her child,” said Assemblyman Atkins. “

“Too many nursing mothers have faced an impossible choice to serve their community through jury duty, or meet the basic needs of their child,” said Assemblywoman Reynolds-Jackson. “With this law, we are recognizing that civic duty and motherhood shouldn’t be in conflict.”

The bill went into effect immediately.