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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| The trials of the celebrity juror | The trials of the celebrity juror |
| (about 17 hours later) | |
| Former President George W Bush appeared for jury duty at a Dallas courthouse on Wednesday, prompting excitement amongst fellow jurors. | Former President George W Bush appeared for jury duty at a Dallas courthouse on Wednesday, prompting excitement amongst fellow jurors. |
| As it turned out, he was not actually selected for duty but this did not a stop a flurry of photos with his colleagues before he was spirited away from the building by secret service agents. | |
| "I turned around and he was seated right behind me and I said, "I think I know that guy," fellow juror Joel Ehambe said. | "I turned around and he was seated right behind me and I said, "I think I know that guy," fellow juror Joel Ehambe said. |
| This is not the first time a former president has been called for duty - in 2003 Bill Clinton was a prospective juror in a gang shooting case in New York. | This is not the first time a former president has been called for duty - in 2003 Bill Clinton was a prospective juror in a gang shooting case in New York. |
| However, he was excluded by the judge, who said his secret service retinue could "undermine our efforts to keep the case focused quietly on the evidence". | However, he was excluded by the judge, who said his secret service retinue could "undermine our efforts to keep the case focused quietly on the evidence". |
| The Dallas Morning News quotes Judge Eric Moye as insisting Mr Bush's profile was not the reason he was not called for duty. | The Dallas Morning News quotes Judge Eric Moye as insisting Mr Bush's profile was not the reason he was not called for duty. |
| "He was number 27 of a 35 member panel and we only got through number 23," he said. | "He was number 27 of a 35 member panel and we only got through number 23," he said. |
| Never mind former presidents - even actors have to turn up when summoned. | Never mind former presidents - even actors have to turn up when summoned. |
| Celebrity gossip site TMZ even has a special "Reporting for Duty" page where you can keep track of famous faces going to court (but on the right side of the dock). | Celebrity gossip site TMZ even has a special "Reporting for Duty" page where you can keep track of famous faces going to court (but on the right side of the dock). |
| Often those who appear for jury duty in the first instance are not actually selected to serve on a trial. | Often those who appear for jury duty in the first instance are not actually selected to serve on a trial. |
| But one exception was Tom Hanks, whose being on a jury had an unexpected effect on the outcome of a domestic assault case. | But one exception was Tom Hanks, whose being on a jury had an unexpected effect on the outcome of a domestic assault case. |
| A lawyer for the prosecution admitted approaching Hanks outside the courtroom to thank him for his service. The defence duly asked for a mistrial, citing prosecutorial misconduct. | A lawyer for the prosecution admitted approaching Hanks outside the courtroom to thank him for his service. The defence duly asked for a mistrial, citing prosecutorial misconduct. |
| Lawyers then reached a settlement on a reduced charge, perhaps giving weight to the argument that celebrity jurors can be a distraction. | Lawyers then reached a settlement on a reduced charge, perhaps giving weight to the argument that celebrity jurors can be a distraction. |
| But celebrities don't always hold up the wheels of justice. The jury that Oprah Winfrey sat on in a 2004 murder trial managed to reach a verdict with no mishaps - and, of course, she invited some of her fellow jurors on to the show. | But celebrities don't always hold up the wheels of justice. The jury that Oprah Winfrey sat on in a 2004 murder trial managed to reach a verdict with no mishaps - and, of course, she invited some of her fellow jurors on to the show. |
| However, she did herself point out that inevitable media attention had been something of a distraction: "This is not good for the victim's family. This is not about Oprah Winfrey, the fact is a man has been murdered." | However, she did herself point out that inevitable media attention had been something of a distraction: "This is not good for the victim's family. This is not about Oprah Winfrey, the fact is a man has been murdered." |
| Not famous enough? | Not famous enough? |
| But if anyone reading has a public profile and think they might plead celebrity if the summons ever arrives, take note of the case of British footballer Carl Fletcher. | But if anyone reading has a public profile and think they might plead celebrity if the summons ever arrives, take note of the case of British footballer Carl Fletcher. |
| He reportedly tried to argue he was too well-known in the area when called for jury service in Plymouth, and that it would prevent him attending matches. | He reportedly tried to argue he was too well-known in the area when called for jury service in Plymouth, and that it would prevent him attending matches. |
| Judge Francis Gilbert was not convinced. | Judge Francis Gilbert was not convinced. |
| "Captaining Plymouth Argyle is not sufficient reason for not doing jury service. Employers are required to give you time off for jury service as a matter of law," he said. | "Captaining Plymouth Argyle is not sufficient reason for not doing jury service. Employers are required to give you time off for jury service as a matter of law," he said. |
| "So far, what you've said is not sufficient. Lots of well-known people, some more famous than you, have been required to sit on juries." | "So far, what you've said is not sufficient. Lots of well-known people, some more famous than you, have been required to sit on juries." |
| Ouch. | Ouch. |