Former President Obama called to jury duty in Cook County and plans to serve

[yortsed snacilbuper]

While Obama would likely be the highest-profile person ever to appear for jury duty in Cook County, other famous people, including Oprah Winfrey and Mr. T, have served, as have politicians including governors and mayors.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/former-president-obama-called-to-jury-duty-in-cook-county-and-plans-to-serve/ar-AAu8QwA?li=AA5a8k&ocid=spartanntp

[lapfog_1]

1. he will not be seated

waaay too much legal knowledge

[CaliforniaPeggy]

3. You are almost certainly correct, and it's too bad he won't get to serve.

He would certainly be fair and smart at the same time.

[Drunken Irishman]

5. I miss him so much.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

7. I miss him too, my dear Drunken Irishman...

[Cryptoad]

13. put me down on that list too

[Hortensis]

28. Waaay too much influence. Can you imagine being on that

jury in deliberations? If he were seated, he'd undoubtedly do his best to be the one among an entire panel that he's supposed to be, likely declining to be foreman and speaking later or last, but still.

[Ilsa]

41. I wonder if anyone would want to be foreman with him as a member?

I would be a babbling mess in front him, maybe only surpassing dotus' speech skills.

I wonder how many on the jury would dis him? Probably not many, but the RW cult feel emboldened to be rude and openly hostile and threatening.

[Hortensis]

47. Yes! Lol. He's charming, but I'd have no trouble

interpreting his comments as guidance, even if they were just comments.

You know, there are lot of "RW cult" types where I live, and they can get aggressive in packs. Or very pointedly, hostilely silent (the more "mannered," they imagine, version).

But individually it's usually very different and nice to the point that if, you don't know the person's outlook, you might often be lead into thinking you were mostly on the same page -- until a whole different experience when the pack is there for support.

A long way of saying, I believe even half a jury of RWers, some of them full-cult, wouldn't be enough in HIS presence. They'd do a trump and mostly go quiet until safely away and could go into it with their friends.

[C Moon]

19. +1

[Rhiannon12866]

24. That was my first thought, too! I agree with you on both counts

[milestogo]

18. John Kerry served on a jury shortly after running for president.

[JI7]

20. it might depend on how "serious" the case was . i don't think the one Kerry

sat on was that much. at least in terms of someone possibly going to jail.

the jury picked him to be foreman and they all seemed to go along with him and talked about what a great leader he was.

i don't think he would have been allowed if it was a criminal trial.

[Skittles]

25. but wouldn't it be COOL to be in the jury pool with him

YEE HAW

[hibbing]

2. I love this

Wonder who would be foreperson if chosen.


Peace

[Angry Dragon]

4. I thought they bought a house near DC??

Must not have changed DL nor voter registration
I question whether he can serve on a jury in Cook county

[dragonlady]

6. I believe they are renting for a year while Sasha finishes high school n/t

[Angry Dragon]

11. okay-------------a female dragon!!

[dragonlady]

14. Greetings, my dragon brother

I think there is another of our tribe somewhere on DU.

[mopinko]

43. they bought the house. but they didnt sell the house in chicago.

and he is likely still registered to vote there.

[dragonlady]

50. Thanks, I hadn't seen that n/t

[Dotarded]

8. Would be great if he could

But it is impossible to ever pretend to guarantee a fair trial if he is on a jury and anyone knows it

Should put him in some hollywood studio disguise or something

[Beartracks]

9. Trump would claim bone spurs. n/t

[Raine]

26. Trump actually was called and reported for jury duty in 2015

I tthought I remembered seeing it on the news but then wondered if I had imagined it so I Googled it and sure enough he did.

[Beartracks]

49. Well okay then! My joke is moot!

==========

[Raine]

53. not totally, who would want him sitting in judgement

on you ... I know I wouldn't!

[Hornedfrog1985]

10. Honestly.

I dont want him wasting his time. He needs to be thinking up ideas to help fix this massive mess the traitors are making

[Angry Dragon]

12. I bet Obama can do more than 2 things at once unlike Trump who can not do one thing correct

[mnmoderatedem]

36. Trump

couldn't piss and chew gum at the same time.

[dragonlady]

16. It would be setting a good example

Serving on a jury when called is a part of citizenship and a public service. How else would defendants get their right to a trial by their peers if no one served? (I was on a jury earlier this year and learned a lot!)

[JI7]

21. it's not a waste of him. even if he will likely be dismissed

[Demit]

33. Serving on a jury is not wasting time. It's a bedrock principle of democracy.

[Hornedfrog1985]

37. Im sorry but obama doesnt have enough time

He has things 100000x more important to do. We need help right now, and i assume he is working his butt off.

[Demit]

39. I'm glad he sees what you don't.

[forgotmylogin]

15. That's so cool of him.

Imagine being all "ugh. jury duty" and then walking in that morning to discover you're serving in the same jury pool as PRESIDENT FREAKING OBAMA.

He'd probably sit and work a jigsaw puzzle with you!

[Liberal In Texas]

17. He'll never get put on the jury.

Voir dire will take care of that. One side just won't want him on.

I would love to have him on a jury deciding a case I was involved in.

[Sunlei]

23. not if you're "bad guy" in case, Obama would send you down the river.He's on the good guy TEAM.

[Sunlei]

22. wonder if he will get picked for a jury and is happy with $10 for parking & lunch

[muriel_volestrangler]

27. A headache for the Secret Service

A jury is meant to deliberate in private, so they shouldn't be in there, but 11 strangers are that they can't refuse access to. Sure, everyone will have been thoroughly checked and frisked for weapons, but still, what if a fight broke out?

[DeminPennswoods]

29. Doubtful he'd be picked, but

you never know. I'm sure Cook county has a ton of cases to be tried.

[AngryAmish]

30. I would pick him. Why not?

Depends on the case. If it is a month long construction case, no way. Huge pain. An auto two day trial? It will be fun.

[secondwind]

31. He is still considered a resident of Cook County? That is odd

[GoCubsGo]

35. He still owns his house in Hyde Park.

That is still his permanent residence. He's just renting the place in DC, if I am not mistaken. Unless that's second home.

[Not Ruth]

38. Isnt residency based on where you spend your time?

[GoCubsGo]

40. Not necessarily.

As any college student who pays out-of-state tuition can tell you. Even though the Obamas lived in the White House for 8 years, it was a temporary residence, as is their current address. Their permanent address is still in Chicago.

[Lee-Lee]

32. He won't make it to the jury

The last thing a lawyer wants is a lawyer on the jury, especially one smarter than they are.

Lawyers never get selected for criminal or civil cases. Cops never get selected for criminal cases. Doctors and nurses never get selected for medical malpractice cases.

Lawyers don't want people who understand the issues of the case from the beginning on any jury. They want people who they can explain their version of the case to and try to convince.

[Not Ruth]

34. I have seen a lawyer get selected for a civil case jury, it was settled prior to any jury decision

[left-of-center2012]

42. What would Trump do if Trump were called?

Have a flare up of his bone spur?

[former9thward]

46. He was called and did serve in NY in 2015.

[brooklynite]

44. "Serve" in the sense of "sit around and never get picked".

No two opposing legal parties would agree on selecting a 1) Constitutional Law Professor 2) influential former President

[Wounded Bear]

45. Interesting...

[melm00se]

48. My personal favorite

when it comes to high profile people called for jury duty was when Chief Justice John Roberts was called in MD.

Can imagine the judge on the case? They would have to be on pins and needles knowing that any appeal on their ruling could conceivably end up in front of Roberts and his court.

(yes I know he would have to recuse himself)

[OliverQ]

51. Obama's new DC office is actually in the build next to where i work. I'll get to see him fairly

often probably.

[Blindingly apparent]

52. Wouldnt it be cool if he was called to serve on a trial concerning GOP corruption

I know that that’s not possible but it is fun to dream

[MadDAsHell]

54. Plans to serve

I didn’t know he had a choice. I assumed as a civilian now he was required to show up just as anybody else would be?