The former president’s arrival at the courthouse caused a flurry of activity, as onlookers took photographs and Obama signed books for would-be jurors

This article is more than 2 years old

This article is more than 2 years old

Barack Obama appeared as a candidate for jury duty in Chicago on Wednesday, but was dismissed by the judge without being called on to serve.

The former US president arrived for duty at the Richard J Daley Center in downtown Chicago shortly after 10am on Wednesday. By noon, the Cook County chief judge, Timothy Evans, was telling reporters that Obama would not be serving.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest People rush the doors of the jury assembly room as Obama departs after being dismissed from jury duty. Photograph: Charles Rex Arbogast/AP

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Obama’s appearance at the courthouse created quite a stir. He was photographed outside by people who heard on the news that Obama would be coming to court to present himself as a potential juror. In the courthouse lobby, people craned their necks for a glimpse of Obama, wearing a sport coat and shirt but no tie, and took cellphone pictures of him.

“The public allowed him to come in and to do his duty. 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. He took time to greet people on both sides,” Evans said.

Evans said the former president shook hands with other would-be jurors inside the jury assembly room and signed copies of his books that some had taken with them to court.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Obama could have received $17.20 for each day of jury service. Photograph: Joshua Lott/Getty Images

According to published reports, the Secret Service was at the courthouse on Tuesday in anticipation of Obama’s appearance.

Like others, Obama would have been in line to be paid $17.20 a day for jury duty had he been selected to take part.

Obama owns a home in the Kenwood neighborhood on Chicago’s South Side.

Obama isn’t the first high-profile person to appear for jury duty in Chicago. In 2004, Oprah Winfrey was on a jury that convicted a man of murder.

In 2015 former President George W Bush was called to jury duty in Dallas, Texas. After posing for photos with other jurors, he was also dismissed.