Bush Will Serve on Jury in 2006

George W. Bush has cited scheduling conflicts for not doing jury duty in Waco, Texas at this time. Given his current gig, that's understandable. But he apparently will serve on a jury early next year. The White House has said the President considers service on a jury, when called up, to be a civic duty.

Senator John Kerry apparently agrees. I read recently that Kerry received kudos from his fellow jurors after they'd selected him to serve as foreperson for a Massachusetts trial.

I once served on a grand jury and found it a thoroughly enjoyable and interesting experience. And when you consider it, serving on a jury when called is more than a duty. It's a privilege. For ordinary citizens to serve in this way exemplifies our commitment to government "of the people, by the people, for the people."

One of the best tributes to the American jury system remains Twelve Angry Men. (But where were the women?)