George W. Bush Shows for Jury Duty, Excused

DALLAS (CN) - A relaxed President George W. Bush surprised court staffers and jurors Wednesday when he reported for jury duty at the Dallas County courthouse.

Bush chatted with other jurors and posed for several photographs at the George L. Allen Sr. Courts Building.

"He was very personable, very friendly, just, 'Hey, I'm here to serve.' He asked questions and was very nice," Sheri Coleman told The Dallas Morning News. "I loved it."

Several jurors and court staffers tweeted photos of themselves with Bush throughout the morning.

Bush was summoned for jury duty and was in the courthouse from 8:50 a.m. to just before noon, his spokesman Freddy Ford said.

Judge Eric Moye excused Bush after he was not selected as a juror. Moye had learned only hours earlier that Bush would be assigned to his courtroom.

"It would be great if everyone took their jury service the same way he did," Moye told the newspaper. "He understood it was important, he took it in good nature and he was engaged and talked to the lawyers."

Bush was not selected because juror positions had already been filled.

"He was number 27 of a 35-member panel and we only got through number 23," Moye said.

The judge hoped other citizens will follow Bush's example.

"One of the remarks I made to jury was all of you have some reason why you have to do something else," Moye said. "But take a look over and see you have the former president who has given his time to be here, so think how good your excuses for getting out of here really are."

Bush has lived in the Preston Hollow neighborhood in north Dallas since he left office in 2009. The George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum is nearby on the campus of Southern Methodist University.

Follow @davejourno

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