Former US president George W Bush appeared in court on Wednesday to serve on a jury, but he was not picked and instead spent his time posing for selfies.
The 43rd president surprised fellow potential jurors when he arrived to fulfil the civic duty at a courthourse in Dallas.
The former commander-in-chief, who was US president from 2001 to 2009, posed for photos with star-struck Texans before being told he was not needed.
Secret Service agents whisked Bush away soon after he was not selected as a juror when positions were filled from the 35-member panel.
President Bush had jury duty today! 🇺🇸 #43 pic.twitter.com/S7AOMkNJBu
— Texas GOP (@TexasGOP) August 5, 2015
“President Bush received his jury summons and reported for service ... at the George Allen Courts Building in Dallas,” Bush’s spokesman Freddy Ford said in a statement.
“He sat through the jury selection panel for a case in Judge Eric Moye’s court on the 14th civil district but, surprise, he was not picked to serve as a juror.”
One of the members of the panel, Sheri Coleman, told the Dallas Morning News that the president’s appearance was “awesome”.
@DeenaZaruCNN jury duty with the prez! pic.twitter.com/8sC9toU146
— Manny (@emane17) August 5, 2015
“He was very personable, very friendly, just: ‘Hey I’m here to serve,’ he asked questions and was very nice,” she said. “I loved it.”
Joel Ehambe, another potential juror, told the newspaper he sat just in front of the former president.
“I turned around and he was seated right behind me and I said: ‘I think I know that guy,’” he said. “Then the judge introduced him and said it was an honour to have the former president of the United States in the court.”
