BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) -- Mother of four, Kandace Brown, said she was summoned to jury duty by the Jefferson County Court in December.
Brown said jury duty is an experience she has gone through before, but this time around she is a nursing mother, breastfeeding her 3-month-old daughter Parker.
"I have my 3-month-old, and I told them about my situation from the beginning. That I was exclusively breastfeeding, my baby could not eat without me. I could not leave her, she wouldn't take a bottle, and they said you'll have to wait for a judge to excuse," said Brown.
On Monday, Brown said she arrived at the Jefferson County Courthouse, and as she waited to hear instructions from the judges, she said herself and other moms with their children were addressed.
"The judge said on the microphone, I can't see the children, but I hear that kids are here today. You need to make accommodations for your child to come and be picked up. We would hate for DHR to be involved. And so, we're like, 'oh gosh surely this can't happen,'" said Brown.
Brown said she tried to get approval to be dismissed as she was unable to make accommodations.
After being told to sit down and wait, she says she was finally dismissed hours later.
"She said 'Well, I can tell you you can be excused today, but you will be called back very soon and when you are you cannot bring your baby with you.'"
A response that led to Brown posting about her experience on Facebook, which received attention and comments from other mothers sharing a similar experience.
Brown said she is now calling on Alabama lawmakers for guidelines around nursing mothers called for jury duty.
Former Legislature and State Auditor of Alabama, Andrew Sorrell sponsored HB369 in 2021 meant to exempt nursing mothers from jury duty, but it ultimately failed in the committee.
"This is a story that we need to actually get something done about this," said Sorrell.
Sorrell said he reached out to Brown about her experience and said he is also calling on lawmakers to do something.
"The law needs to clearly state that breastfeeding is a valid exemption from jury duty and then maybe, maybe put the mom's name back in the pool after her child's no longer breast feeding," said Sorrell.
Sorrell said Alabama currently has no law exempting nursing mothers from jury duty.
Alabama House Representative Susan Dubose said after hearing Brown's story she plans to file a bill regarding this at the 2025 Legislative Session.
CBS 42 reached out to both Jefferson County Judge Hatcher and Judge French's office for comment. We are still waiting to hear back.