Barack Obama's two-term presidency may be over, but his participation in American civic life is something that's not going to stop any time soon, it appears. According to reports, Obama will serve jury duty in Cook County, Illinois, next month. The information came from the county's chief judge Timothy Evans who said Obama is set to serve his public duty in November.
In The Chicago Tribune, Evans was quoted highlighting Obama's intention to "carry out his public duty" in the coming autumn month as he said that the former American president "made it crystal-clear to me through his representative that he would carry out his public duty as a citizen and resident of this community." For those who may not know, Obama has property in Washington, D.C., as well as the Kenwood residential area of Chicago.
Those curious about the specific details of the case such as where the courthouse is or even when Obama's jury duty begins might be disappointed to know that that is not being made public due to security reasons. The county chief judge said, "Obviously we will make certain that he has all the accouterments that accompany a former president His safety will be uppermost in our minds."
People called for jury duty can either be asked to perform their civilian duty in a criminal case or a civil hearing. And while it isn't known where Obama will be performing his civic responsibility, a general assumption is that the person called for jury duty can be asked to come to a suburban courthouse in the Cook County. Still, as Evans mentioned before, the details of Obama's whereabouts for the day will be kept under the wraps for safety reasons.
When it comes to experience and insight, it is worth noting that Obama's professional background indicates that he could be an exceptionally sharp and intrepid member on the jury. In addition to having a degree from The Harvard Law School, Obama had once taught law at The University of Chicago where he conducted not one, not two, but three courses per year from 1996 to 2004. That's a lot of academic experience teaching a particularly daunting and complicated subject.
When it comes to the profiles of jury members, Obama could be the most famous one so far. Other prominent individuals to have reported for jury duty include former president George W. Bush in Dallas, Texas, in 2015. Eventually, the former American president wasn't picked as a juror but he did stay on location for a reported three hours and took photos with people.
It's also worth noting that serving as a juror isn't a lucrative gig. Most of the time, the monetary compensation for such a civic duty is low, occasionally falling below minimum wage. The National Center for State Courts offers a comprehensive list for anyone seeking to learn how much they would earn for a day of jury duty. For jurors in Cook County, Illinois, the compensation falls at $17.20. Just a little tidbit to know is case you were wondering how much Obama, the former president of the United States of America, would get paid for his service.
In spite of remarkably low financial compensation for such a civic engagement — along with the fact that duty can go on for long durations — the significance of having an active and thoughtful juror is undeniable. It's why the chief judge commended Obama for taking his civil obligation seriously. "Although it’s not a place where the public can earn a lot of money, it is highly appreciated. It’s crucial that our society get the benefit of that kind of commitment," Evans said.
