Jury Service

Waco Tribune reported Leading the free world during wartime and reporting for jury duty are both important public service responsibilities. While most would agree that serving as president of the United States is more pressing than serving as foreman of a jury, McLennan County officials are waiting for Crawford resident George W. Bush, potential juror number 286, to respond to a summons to report Monday for jury duty.

A summons for jury service is supposed to be random, but it seems strange that George Bush would be called for jury service right after John Kerry served, and was Jury Forman

"It is not uncommon that people don't respond for jury duty,"

That is wrong. Because of the security issues it would create for the Secret Service, I don't think Bush should serve, but most other people should definitely serve when they are called. I would even like to see lawyers serve, although they are usually excused during the Voir Dire

said 19th State District Judge Ralph Strother, to whose court the president has been summoned. "It is unique having the president in this situation, so I have never faced this issue before and I am not sure what is going to happen. I am assuming at some point that we will hear something from somebody on his behalf." White House spokesman Allen Abney said the commander-in-chief was not aware of the situation: "The White House has not received the summons yet." He declined to elaborate on how the president would handle the jury notice when it finally did arrive from Bush's adopted home county.... "The president actually appearing for jury duty, I think, would create all sorts of security issues for the Secret Service, for the sheriff's department, for the courthouse, so I anticipate that we will hear some type of response to the jury summons," Strother said.

Hugh Hewitt blogged What to do? If he gets out of jury duty, Dems will complain he's not reporting for duty, with inevitable allusions to his Texas Air National Guard service. If he does report and serve, he'll be slacking off in his Presidential duties, with inevitable allusions to his excessive exercise regimen and long Crawford "vacations." Decisions, decisions.

Hillel Levin blogged I have an interest in jury selection and composition, so I was intrigued by two recent stories. According to the first, John Kerry served as a jury foreperson in Massachusetts. According to the second, George W. Bush has been called to jury duty in Texas. I imagine the president will get a deferral for, oh, about three years.