Former US president Barack Obama called for jury duty in Chicago

Former US president Barack Obama called for jury duty in Chicago

Former US president Barack Obama will serve jury duty in Chicago, a county judge has said.

The 44th president has been called to serve as a juror at a Cook County court in November.

Cook County Chief Judge Tim Evans told county commissioners during a budget hearing that Mr Obama, who owns homes in Washington DC and Chicago's Kenwood neighbourhood, will serve.

Mr Obama served as an Illinois senator before his 2008 election to the White House, and is registered to vote in the capital Chicago.

Mr Evans said Mr Obama's safety would be "uppermost in our minds" when he serves.

"He made it crystal clear to me through his representative that he would carry out his public duty as a citizen and resident of this community," Mr Evans told the Chicago Tribune.

Those called can be put either in the pool for criminal case or civil hearings.

They can be called to any of the county's Chicago or suburban courthouses.

All jurors watch a decades-old video about their duties narrated by journalist Lester Holt, once a local news reader and now anchor of NBC Nightly News.

Jurors in Cook County are paid $22.39 for each day of service.

"Although it's not a place where the public can earn a lot of money, it is highly appreciated," Mr Evans added.

In 2004, Oprah Winfrey served duty in the same county, sitting on the jury for a murder case.