States and U.S. Territories with Family Friendly Jury Duty

Last Updated 04/14/2007

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State

Statute, Rule, Policy, or Bill

Description

Missouri

(Click Bill
for more info)

Pending legislation!

HB 546 To repeal sections 494.425 and 494.430, RSMo, and to enact in lieu thereof two new sections relating to jury service.
(Summary: Exempts from jury duty any woman who is breastfeeding and disqualifies licensed attorneys from serving on juries)

Section 494.430, RSMo: Upon timely application to the court, the following persons shall be excused from service as a petit or grand juror:...
(6) Any woman who is breastfeeding, but only if such woman provides a written statement to the court certifying that she is actually breastfeeding her own child not exceeding two years of age; and requesting that she be excused from service.
Introduced by Rep. Robert Schaaf 1/23/2007

Missouri

Missouri Revised Statutes
Chapter 494
General Provisions as to Juries
Section 494.430
The current statute honors primary caregivers (moms, dads, homeschoolers, etc.) who are taking care of children, the elderly, or the handicapped.
 

494.430. 1. Upon timely application to the court, the following persons shall be excused from service as a petit or grand juror:
(3) Any person upon whom service as a juror would in the judgment of the court impose an undue or extreme physical or financial hardship.
4. ...undue or extreme physical or financial hardship is limited to circumstances in which an individual would:
(1) Be required to abandon a person under his or her personal care or supervision due to the impossibility of obtaining an appropriate substitute caregiver during the period of participation in the jury pool or on the jury...

Missouri

Missouri Constitution
Article I
BILL OF RIGHTS Section 22(b)
The Missouri Constitution excuses women from jury duty.
(This article seems a bit old-fashioned, but it's still on the books...it has been challenged, however)

Female jurors--optional exemption.
Section 22(b). No citizen shall be disqualified from jury service because of sex, but the court shall excuse any woman who requests exemption therefrom before being sworn as a juror.
August 28, 2006

Missouri

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for more info)

FEDERAL
United States District Court, Western District of Missouri
Amended plan for the Random Selection...of Grand and Petit Jurors.
M.(3) Individual Excuse from Jury Service
Revised April 2001

(3) “Persons having active care and custody of a child or children under 10 years of age whose health and/or safety would be jeopardized by their absence for jury service; or a person who is essential to the care of an aged or infirm person.”

Montana

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for more info)

FEDERAL
United States District Court, District of Montana
Jury Plan; VII Creating Qualified Jury Wheels; C. Excuses on Individual Request (2)
Approved May 23, 2003

(3) "Persons having active care and custody of a child or children under 10 years of age whose health and/or safety would be jeopardized by their absence for jury service; or a person who is essential to the care of an aged or infirm person."

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