By Ellie Klein (Estimated reading time: 6 minutes)
What started as one bad day as a juror in 2023 changed a law earlier this year. Washington will join more than 20 other states in supporting breastfeeding parents through SB 5217, a bill that will expand accommodations for pregnant and postpartum workers. Beginning in January 2027, the bill will require employers to provide paid breaks in a private location to pump breast milk, as well as excuse breastfeeding people from jury duty. This is all thanks to the support of PEPS, who listened to my story and helped find a path to a legislative win to make life easier for parents across the state.
The Jury Duty Experience That Inspired Me to Take Action
When I received my jury summons from the City of Seattle in 2023, my baby was just six months old and exclusively breastfed. I had only been back at work for three weeks. Any breastfeeding parent understands the relentless schedule required to maintain a milk supply when away from their child: pumping every two to three hours, coupled with the setup and cleaning of pump parts.
When I emailed the court to see if they could accommodate me with a lactation room, they said yes, but I was nervous that the unpredictable nature of the jury would impact my ability to pump. That turned out to be truer than I even realized.
The first time I asked to use the lactation room, the woman at the front desk grimaced and told me that it was very inconvenient, given that they were about to start orientation. What also became quickly apparent was that, unlike breastfeeding at your home or pumping at your own workplace, jury duty entails a lack of access to your own personal space or freedom to move around a building as an employee. As a juror, you need to ask to be escorted to the lactation room.
When I was eventually escorted to the lactation room, I was shocked. I was brought to an unlabeled room that had seemingly never been cleaned; the walls were stained, the floor was covered with small pieces of trash and crumbs, and it did not have a large enough table to place pump parts.
The second time I was escorted to the room, I was even more surprised to find a court employee taking a nap. The woman who had escorted me downstairs did not want to disturb him, and so she suggested I pump in the employee gym — a completely public space with windows to the employee break room. I said no thanks, and she begrudgingly woke up the sleeping employee and asked him to move.
This entire experience demonstrated a profound lack of awareness, support, and basic respect for breastfeeding jurors.
Finding Hope Amidst the Frustration
Throughout that day, I felt defeated — for myself and for the countless other breastfeeding parents who had undoubtedly experienced the same circumstances. It took asking four different people, six separate times (including the judge), to accommodate me before I was finally excused after a full day of jury duty.
When I got home, I immediately emailed my city and state representatives and contacted the Attorney General and the Office of Civil Rights.
I also texted my Second Time Around PEPS Group, a group of moms I text with on a weekly basis. It’s a group where I never feel like I have to pretend everything is great, nor is it a negative space where everything feels bad. It’s the duality and nuance of parenthood that PEPS helped strengthen in us through weekly meetings and conversations. Our Group Leader encouraged us to be vulnerable with each other and share what was hard, sad, or felt impossible about motherhood, while also prompting us to celebrate the joys and the small wins like getting out of the house with a tiny baby to see each other, even if only for 20-30 minutes.
When I got home from jury duty, I sent the pictures of the nursing mothers’ room to my group. My friend Nisha immediately suggested I send my story to PEPS. She remembered that they were taking action as a nonprofit to support policies that build a foundation of stability for parents and families in Washington state and thought they would be able to do something about it.
Everyone else I contacted either ignored my email or told me they could not help me because I wasn’t an employee of the court. The PEPS team was the exact opposite. They were incredibly supportive from my very first email. Even without an immediate solution in hand, their willingness to listen and engage was a testament to the warm, welcoming, and understanding community they strive to create.
Testifying for Change
Little did I know, work was already in motion for legislative change in Washington State to improve pregnancy-related accommodations in the workplace. A year after I’d originally reached out, PEPS reconnected with me to share that they had successfully connected with several partners and advocates from organizations like MomsRising, who were interested in this issue and willing to incorporate it into the policies they were already pursuing for the legislative session. Knowing that personal testimony is both powerful and persuasive, PEPS asked if I would be willing to speak and testify about my experience. I did not need any convincing and was happy to share my story, hoping it would help other parents avoid what I had been through.
The PEPS staff and advocacy consultant stood by my side throughout the entire process. They listened to every detail of my story, explained the broader legislation, guided me through the complexities of testimony, and connected me with other organizations when I arrived in person in Olympia. I testified twice in support of bill SB 5217 to expand pregnancy-related accommodations alongside other parents, including two UPS drivers who, through their stories, helped provide even more significant wins for breastfeeding parents in the form of paid lactation breaks during work hours separate from existing meal or rest breaks.
I am beyond thankful to PEPS for introducing me to some of my favorite fellow moms in Seattle, and for their dedication to making Washington a better, more supportive state for parents.
Do YOU want to advocate for more equitable policies for children and families? Learn more about advocacy work at PEPS and sign up for our advocacy updates to receive timely action alerts to support policies and contact your legislators
About the Author
Ellie Klein has built her career in using data and evidence to improve outcomes and inform decision-making. In her current role, she spearheads strategic initiatives that leverage evidence to maximize the impact of philanthropic investments.
She previously held roles at the Gates Foundation, the Government Accountability Office (GAO), and the Brookings Institution. Her research has been featured in The Washington Post, PBS, and CNN, and she has presented her findings to members of Congress.
Ellie began her career as an AmeriCorps member in Federal Way Public Schools in Washington state and is a proud graduate of Whitman College in Walla Walla. She currently resides in Seattle with her husband and two children.
