Former president Barack Obama has answered a jury summons, arriving at a Chicago courthouse to perform the civic duty asked of all Americans - but he was sent home just two hours later.
The former leader of the free world was the only juror to arrive by six-vehicle motorcade, however, accompanied by tight security and met by a throng of news media.
He left his Chicago home in the Kenwood neighbourhood at 9.30am and arrived at the courthouse a half hour layer. His motorcade was made up of four black SUVs, a Chicago police SUV, and an Illinois State Police SUV.
![Former President Barack Obama arrives for jury duty in the Daley Center. Photo / AP](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/v2/RY72QYE7URL4XH6XMDYZOGPIRQ.jpg?auth=b08399b9a8249d2267092537c3bc5e0d0a96ff0a7bf05b9ec9cfa1a1fbb249b9&width=16&height=14&quality=70&smart=true)
The ex-president's Secret Service detail parked under the courthouse, and then ferried Obama up to the 17th floor jury assembly room via an elevator usually reserved just for judges.