Breastfeeding Mom Brings Baby to Jury Duty -- Ends Up Getting Charged With Contempt of Court

A Missouri mother is fighting contempt of court charges after she brought her breastfeeding son to jury duty.

KCTV-TV in Kansas City reported that stay-at-home mom Laura Trickle of Lee's Summit showed up to jury selection with her 7-month-old. She had been told she could either pump milk during breaks or have a sitter stay on location to take care of her son so she could feed him.

Laura Trickle was charged with contempt of court for bringing her breastfeeding baby to jury duty without another care option for him. (Image source: KCTV video screenshot)

Trickle said her son won't take a bottle, so pumping wasn't an option, and told the local news station that alternate childcare isn't something her family has.

Declining both options given to her, Trickle is facing contempt of court and a $500 fine.

She "willfully and contemptuously appeared for jury service with her child and no one to care for the child,” the court order served to Trickle said, according to the Kansas City Star.

For the woman who said she's never even had a speeding ticket, this prospect "has been really scary."

"It is not right. It is not fair for us. We're just trying to do what is best for our children, and we shouldn't be penalized and fined for it," Trickle told KCTV.

Trickle will appear before court Thursday to face this charge.

Trickle told the Kansas City Star she's not trying to get out of jury service.

“The issue is the timing,” she said. “I just can’t do it right now.”

Other states have laws to exempt breastfeeding mothers from jury duty. Legislation is on the table to add such an exemption in Missouri.

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