Former President Barrack Obama has been called upon, for the second time, to serve his country, but this time in a different capacity, as a member of a jury in Cook County, Illinois, next month. The exact date is yet to be announced, but reports by NBC News indicate the former President intends to perform his Civic Duty.

Although the former President resides in Washington DC, he has a home in the Kenwood area of Chicago, and before entering the world of politics, he taught constitutional law at the University of Chicago.

The Chief Judge of Cook County Chicago, Tim Cook, was quoted by the Chicago Tribune addressing county commissioners during a budget hearing, saying Obama would avail himself for Jury Duty.

Special arrangements

Judge Cook added he spoke to Obama's representative, who assured him that the former President would perform his public and civic duty, as a US citizen, and member of the community.

Although Cook did not say which court Obama would serve in, or the date of the case hearing, he did mention that the court would make special security arrangements for the former President.

This is the second time Obama has been called for jury duty. The first time was in 2010, but he was unable to attend as he was meeting with the President of the Kurdistan region in Iraq on the same day, in his capacity as the President of the United States.

Jury duty in Chicago

Obama will be the highest profile member to be called for jury duty in Chicago.

Other notable people who have served before in Chicago include, Oprah Winfrey and Lawrence Tureaud, popularly known as Mr. T. Oprah appeared as a jury member in a murder case involving a 27-year-old man charged with first-degree murder. The jury in the case returned a guilty verdict after deliberations.

In Chicago, jury duty can be assigned to a civil or criminal case.

Jurors can either be called to Chicago's suburban courthouses or County Courts.Once selected, the process begins by watching a video about the duties of the jury, and each day, jurors in Cook County are paid $17.20 for their service. There was no word from Judge Cook if Obama would accept the payment.

President Trump was called up for jury duty in 2015 at the State Supreme Court in Lower Manhattan when he was a presidential candidate.

He spent the entire day among other potential jury members, but he did not serve, owing to the court's small caseload.

Former President's Bill Clinton and George Bush, have also been called up for jury duty in the past.
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