Think you're too busy for jury duty
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
You're probably going to get a little less sympathy from officials in Kansas, where Gov. Kathleen Sebelius reported Monday for jury duty in Shawnee County District Court in Topeka.
Sebelius spent most of the day in courtrooms on the fourth floor of the county courthouse, waiting to be questioned as a prospective juror. Despite her professed wish to serve, she was ultimately excused.
"I'd love to serve on a jury. I've never had that opportunity," Sebelius said before entering the courthouse. "I think it's important that everybody take that civic responsibility."
Like 148 other prospective jurors, Sebelius checked in with the county's jury coordinator, then took a seat quietly in a courtroom. In Shawnee County, jury duty begins with a brief video on the importance of serving.
Sebelius spent about two hours in one courtroom and filled out a juror questionnaire. After that, she was temporarily excused and told to return in the afternoon to find out if she would be picked for the jury to hear a personal injury lawsuit stemming from a car accident.