These were the words delivered by a North Carolina judge who ordered a woman to leave his courtroom after she appeared before him while breastfeeding her child. While kicking her out and insisting that he cover up he called her feeding her child in his courtroom “absolutely ridiculous”. She noted that he didn’t have anything to say about the baby crying, or simply being there- his issues was the breastfeeding.
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Rhodus was ruled against by Judge Knight in her case.
24 Hour News 8’s sister station, 7 News, obtained an audio copy of the court proceedings, where Judge Knight said, “Ma’am you need to cover up. Step outside and button up”. Are you going to be able to stay buttoned up? But a recent story out of North Carolina is particularly upsetting, because the breastfeeding mom in question was shamed in a courtroom by a judge – as in, someone who should have been well aware that North Carolina law permits women to breastfeed anytime, anywhere, without covering up.
Under North Carolina law, mothers are allowed to breastfeed their children in public. A presiding judge has a lot of say over conduct in a courtroom.
Once the mother had stopped breastfeeding her son cries followed throughout the proceedings and a member of a breastfeeding advocacy group says that it is her belief that the judge’s actions affected the rights of that hungry baby.
Rhodus was in court as a defendant against her mother. When the mother continued to protest against the judge’s decision, he threatened her with contempt of court.
According to ABC affiliate WLOS: “The judge gave Rhodus’ mom a six-month protective order for Stephanie not to see her child”. Through a bailiff, Judge Knight said he couldn’t comment on the case.
Such incidents and the resulting media coverage can also affect young women and girls and their perception of breastfeeding.
Rhodus was in Knight’s courtroom in Henderson County for a custody hearing involving her oldest child, she told The Post.
Rhodus told WLOS that she plans to appeal the judge’s ruling, and she will bring the infant to her next court hearing.
‘There’s people who say breastfeeding is fine; just cover the baby or feed him in the bathroom – be a lady.
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Ms Rhodus treatment has resulted in a wave of support for her. Two women have used Facebook to organise a “nurse-in” for her outside the courtroom next Tuesday.
