Mayor Emanuel checks in for jury duty but gets dismissed
BY STEFANO ESPOSITO AND LISA DONOVAN Staff Reporters February 5, 2013 9:54AM
Mayor Rahm Emanuel (right) in the jury room at the Daley Center waiting to be called for jury duty, Tuesday, February 5, 2013. | City of Chicago photo
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Updated: March 7, 2013 6:31AM
Everyone has to do his civic duty — even the mayor of Chicago.
Mayor Rahm Emanuel reported for jury duty around 8:15 a.m. Tuesday at the Daley Center and checked in on the social media site Foursquare. By 11:20 a.m., though, the mayor had been dismissed and headed back to City Hall, a city official said.
Cook County Judge Robert P. Bastone personally escorted the mayor to the 17th floor jury reporting room — using the judge’s elevator, according to a law enforcement source.
At one point Tuesday morning, Emanuel walked past the reception desk, not turning to look at the media kept about 100 feet from the outer entrance. He came into view again later, stopping to chat and pat the back of a Cook County Sheriff’s deputy.
The official Twitter account for the Mayor’s Office, meanwhile, shared a photo of Emanuel sitting with other potential jurors.
No word on who took the photo, but apparently no rules were broken.
“The court’s jury assembly rooms are under the auspices of the Chief Judge who, at this point, does not see a need to limit the use of electronic devices in those rooms,” according to a statement by Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans’ office.
Emanuel planned to donate his $17.20 in jury-duty pay to Cook County, city officials said.
