From the NewsMax.com Staff

For the story behind the story...

Judge: Being President No Excuse Not to Serve Jury Duty

Reprint Information

Book on Katie Couric Makes Waves White House: We're Not Subject to FOIA FBI Seeks 2 Mysterious Men on Ferry Publisher: Conservatives Do Read As Much As Liberals Romney Shrugs Off Mormon History Film

President Bush could get a new title: juror No. 286.

The president is among 600 potential jurors who have been summoned to report to court Monday in McLennan County, where his 1,600-acre Crawford ranch is located.

State District Judge Ralph Strother said he expects to get a response about the summons but doesn't expect Bush to report for duty.

"I don't think I'll be sending the sheriff out to bring the president in," said Strother, a Republican who has a grandson serving in Iraq. "It seems to me that the president has plenty of things to occupy his attention. Jury duty is a very important civic function, but running the country, I think, especially in wartime, takes priority over jury service."

White House spokesman Allen Abney said Bush was not aware of the situation and had not received the summons, the Waco Tribune-Herald reported Thursday. He declined to elaborate on how the president would handle the jury notice when it arrived at the White House.

Story Continues Below

While it's not know if the president will report, Bush's Democratic rival in the 2004 election served on a Massachusetts jury last month.

Sen. John Kerry not only served, but was elected foreman of the Suffolk Superior Court jury, which rejected a claim by two men who sued the city of Boston for injuries suffered in a car accident involving a school principal.

Judge Strother further told MSNBC's Dan Abrams that "technically, being the Commander in Chief" is not one of the exceptions that allow one to beg off jury duty, but he did admit that the president is in a "unique situation," and that many citizens have to request alternate times during which to serve.

Strother said that he spoke with the president's people twice, and that they assured him that President Bush wants to discharge his important civic duty.

The judge said those with whom he spoke were very courteous, helpful, and that he even gave them a list of other dates starting in January during which the president could serve on a jury.

Editor's note:
If you love George Bush – you’ll love NewsMax’s "Bush Collection" – Check it out – Click Here Now
Check out "Resolve" with the official President Bush photo – Click Here Now
Live Free or Die – Get the coffee mug today!

Inside Cover Stories
FBI Seeks 2 Mysterious Men on Ferry

Publisher: Conservatives Do Read As Much As Liberals

Romney Shrugs Off Mormon History Film

Bob Grant to Return to Radio

Carville Seeks Perfect '08 Bumper Sticker More Inside Cover Stories