Barack Obama greeted potential fellow jurors Wednesday in Chicago, signing books and posing for pictures.
“The public allowed him to come in and to do his duty,” said presiding Chief Judge Tim Evans. “I thought, for example, he would be reticent about greeting them. He came in and greeted the prospective jurors on both side of the panels. We had about 220 people here.”
The Chicago Tribune said a media scrum followed Obama’s every move — from departing his South Side home to his 10 a.m. arrival at the downtown Chicago court complex.
“His motorcade parked in a secure garage underneath the Daley Center, a source said. Obama then took a private elevator used by judges to the 17th-floor jury assembly room, where a small crowd of news photographers, reporters, court staff and attorneys pressed up against the doors hoping to catch a glimpse of the former president.”
Social media were flooded with pictures and videos of Obama, and the paper said: “Indeed, Obama was a hit in the jury assembly room, shaking hands with would-be jurors and signing copies of his books that some brought.”
But Obama drew one red line.
“He said, ‘Well you can take a shot, but no selfies.’ He thought that would delay him,” the judge said.
Other views for No. 44:
Barack Obama waves to onlookers during jury duty just now at Daley Center pic.twitter.com/tQXjuJeeHP
— Mitch Dudek (@mitchdudek) November 8, 2017
That's Barack Obama reporting for jury duty just now with Cook County Chief Judge Tim Evans by his side. He took a back entrance. pic.twitter.com/ijyXVI4UVs
— Mitch Dudek (@mitchdudek) November 8, 2017
Obama shakes hands as he enters the building for jury duty pic.twitter.com/ad4pKytr97
— POLITICO (@politico) November 8, 2017
My former colleague happened to be called for jury duty at the same place and same time as Citizen Barack Obama today! pic.twitter.com/u6ub7ESGM2
— Maria Quitéria (@RaceForTheWH) November 8, 2017
With mug in hand, former U.S. president @BarackObama leaves his #Chicago residence and heads to jury duty at the Daley Center, Wednesday, Nov. 8. #Obama #president #juryduty pic.twitter.com/3mxC1b4QyQ
— Alyssa (@AlyssaNo_L) November 8, 2017
What happens when you have jury duty w/ former President Obama! He shook every hand in that jury pool room. This video was captured by Thomas Pearson who said he was going to ditch jury duty today. pic.twitter.com/5AL6baUl6e
— Brandi Hitt (@ABC7Brandi) November 8, 2017
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