President Obama Should Not Skip Out on Jury Duty
By Mary Kate Cary, Thomas Jefferson Street blog
Politics Daily is reporting that President Obama was summoned for jury duty this week in Chicago and told the Cook County circuit court that he would not be able to make it because of the State of the Union address. I can certainly understand having a conflict because of a major address to the American people, but he should have rescheduled the jury duty. The president had an opportunity to signal that jury duty is important and a duty of citizenship, rather than just simply saying he "would not be able to serve." Let's face it, not many people like having to go on jury duty, and would love to say that they're just "not able to serve." I don't think it's right that the president--who is a lawyer himself--can just say this doesn't work for him. Think of all the people who are paid by the hour, the stay-at-home moms, and small-business owners who have to report for jury duty, no matter how inconvenient (and costly) it is for them.
Other presidents have been called for duty, and many times the judges have given them a pass, as one did for former President George W. Bush in 2006. The Christian Science Monitor reported 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." It doesn't sound like any of the former presidents just said no to the judge.
When I was a spokesman at the Department of Justice in the early 1990s, I was called for jury duty. Because I was promoting the attorney general's pro-victim, anti-crime positions daily, I figured the judge would take one look at me and I'd be let off. No such thing. He asked if any potential jurors knew the prosecutor or the defense lawyer personally, and hearing no affirmative answers, started the trial. I couldn't believe I was kept on the jury, but I have to say, it was an eye-opening experience. I learned a heck of a lot about our criminal justice system--good and bad--and I now think everyone should serve on a jury, whether they're the president or not.
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Reader Comments
Obama and Jury Duty
Did you people read the same article I read? She didn't suggest he serve on the Jury while occupying the WH, but that he could have requested a postponement until after his term in office (as did Pres.Reagan) and the judge would more than likely have just flat out excused him. The point is that he could have used this platform to encourage Americans to do their civic duty (which is what I thought they were all about) and answer the call to serve.
I concur
Ma'am with all due respect I agree with the first response. You must be high, drunk, or both. I don't know enough about you to determine if you are right wing, or left wing, but it is painfully clear you are flying blind.
President Obama, whom happens to be the worst modern, if not over all, president in US history has far more pressing issues to deal with. Who really thinks that this out of touch, ego maniac can give his full attention to health care, global warming, running wall street, raising taxes, and screwing some guy out of his right to be judged by a jury of his peers. Not enough time in the day. When will he find time to blame George W. Bush for Haiti (yes people, George W. Bush caused the earthquake in Haiti. New Michael Moore film coming to a theater near you. Soundtrack by Kanye West).
Get real lady. At best you sound foolish and naive. At worst you sound like, in the words of Rahm “Rahmbo Dead Fish” Emanuel, like a f@@@ing retard.
Were you drunk or high when you wrote this garbage?
After reading your article, I double checked the calendar, and it is not April 1st just yet. So clearly you were either drunk or high - or both - to have written such stupidity.
With all of the issues and problems facing the American people, I frankly would have questioned President Obama's judgement if he were to have sat through a trial while our brave men and women in uniform fight two wars and millions continue to lose jobs here at home. The President was very wise - and justified - to ask off of jury duty while President.
Once the president is out of office, then that is a very different matter indeed. But I do think that the man has enough on his plate to justify asking off of jury duty while he is office.
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