Obama Called For Jury Duty; Told Court 'Would Not Be Able To Serve'

3 years ago

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President Barack Obama was called to jury duty at a southwest suburban Chicago courthouse, the Chicago Sun-Times reports. But the White House said Saturday that the president notified the Cook County Circuit Court that "he would not be able to serve."

Chicago Sun-Times columnist Michael Sneed reported that Obama's jury duty summons was sent to his home on the South Side of Chicago asking him to report on Monday at the county courthouse in the suburb of Bridgeview. The White House said the court was told weeks ago - no surprise - that Obama could not make it.

This isn't the first time a president has been called to serve on a jury. Former President George W. Bush in 2006 got a jury summons from McLennan County, Texas, where his ranch is located, but he was let off the hook, according to the Christian Science Monitor.

The Christian Science Monitor reported in 2006 that "in fact, no modern court has had a sitting president on a jury. Ronald Reagan came the closest when he was summoned in the 1980s by Santa Barbara County, Calif. He was granted a deferment until he was out of office. Former President Bill Clinton was willing to serve on a case involving a gang-related shooting when he was called in 2003, but the judge dismissed him."

Filed Under: Barack Obama, Obama Administration

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