The Infuriating Reason This Mom Was Kicked Out of a Courtroom With Her Son

Stephanie Rhodus, a 25-year-old mother of two, was asked to leave a North Carolina courtroom after judge Peter Knight disapproved of her breastfeeding her 8-month-old son, Archer, during a proceeding. She was there on behalf of a custody hearing between her and her own mother regarding Rhodus's 8-year-old son when Archer got hungry. She thought nothing of feeding him right then and there until Knight asked her to cover up.

Knight can be heard in the video asking Rhodus to leave: "Ma'am, you need to cover up. For you not to realize that is absolutely ridiculous. Step outside, and cover up right now. Stand up, and go." Rhodus can be heard apologizing to the judge, but she told ABC News that she was completely shocked: "He was so condescending and so aggressive. . . . and I wanted to declare that I had the right to [breastfeed] there, but I was terrified."

Like many states, North Carolina has a public breastfeeding law ensuring that women have the right to nurse in any location regardless of whether the mother's breast is uncovered.

Sunny Hostin, ABC News senior legal correspondent and analyst, remarked: "Under North Carolina law, this judge went too far."

Judge Knight ended up ruling against Rhodus, issuing a six-month protective order to her mother for Rhodus not to see her child, which she believes has to do with his feelings about her breastfeeding in his courtroom. She tried to protest, but Knight threatened to hold her in contempt, so she has made plans to appeal and is due back in court on April 19.