Stacy Ehrisman-Mickle is a lawyer in Atlanta, Georgia who wore her 4-week-old baby to court. Ehrisman-Mickle strapped the baby to her chest because she had no other choice and she got scolded for it by immigration Judge J. Dan Pelletier Sr., who really should feel ashamed of himself because it's his fault that Ehrisman-Mickle had to take the baby to court with her in the first place. It's official, I really don't like him! Let's see what you think.
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Ehrisman-Mickle took on a case to represent two brothers, who had already been to one court hearing without a lawyer because they couldn't afford one. Their next hearing was scheduled for October 7 during Ehrisman-Mickle's maternity leave. She filed a motion to delay the trial on September 8, the court got it the next day. The good judge waited until October 2 to deny the motion writing, "No good cause. Hearing date set prior to counsel accepting representation." He denied her motion the Friday before the Tuesday hearing. That's just days before!
Ehrisman-Mickle was at home in bed when she found out. Her husband who is a truck driver was out of the state, her baby is too young for day care and she doesn't live near family. She says, "I was in a state of panic. I didn't know what to do with my baby."
Ehrisman-Mickle and baby show up to court with her pediatrician's okay as long as the baby is in a carrier and facing her, the baby starts to cry and the judge has the NERVE to scold Ehrisman-Mickle in front of a packed courtroom. The judge finally agrees to delay the hearing which is what he should have done in the first place. Being on maternity leave is a TOTALLY valid excuse for delaying a hearing, judgy judge.
Ehrisman-Mickle filed a complaint against Pelletier the same day as the trial. Even if nothing comes of it, I am proud of her for sticking up to that judge, for showing up for her clients and for not leaving her baby in the hands of someone she doesn't know or trust at a moment's notice.
This story makes me so mad because it's not just about this judge, it's about this country. We talk about family values and our children being the future of our country, but the country as a whole does not make it easy for parents with young children.
Parents are expected to keep their perfectly behaved children out of sight and so that they in no way interfere with work or life or the advancement of capitalism as we know it. We're hyocrites in so many ways. There's the whole mothers are urged to breastfeed because it's best, but then people act like a mother breastfeeding without hiding her breast in shame under some kind of boob burqa is akin to a stripper working a street lamp like a pole for tips in broad daylight. And dads? They are expected to be their for thier kids and family, but they better not be asking for any time off or flex time at work because then they obviously are not ambitious.
And yes I love America, yes I feel blessed to have been born here, to have given birth to my children here. There is no place I would rather live. No, I do not take any of the benefits of being an American citizen for granted, but that does not mean that I can't hope for better. It's not, "America, love it or leave it!" It should be "America, love it and make it better!"
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