Photo by M.V. Jantzen

Photo by M.V. Jantzen

…for jury duty, that is. According to Mayor Vince Gray’s daily schedule, he’s set to be down at D.C. Superior Court for the majority of today fulfilling his civic responsibility and participating in jury duty.

Gray certainly won’t be the first prominent public official to be called in for jury duty—last October D.C. Police Chief Cathy Lanier was called up, while in January 2011 Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan did her duty. In late 2010, it was Attorney General Eric Holder’s turn, while in 2008 Mayor Adrian Fenty took part. (He was assigned to a drug case, but wasn’t selected. He was allowed to have an aide with him during the process, and yes, he conducted city business on his Blackberry.)

How about U.S. presidents? They’ve been summoned too. In early 2010 President Obama was asked to report for jury duty, but in Chicago, where he maintains his formal residence. (President George W. Bush was similarly called in Texas.) Obama’s case highlights one of the challenges in D.C.—with so many diplomats, members of Congress and transient residents, drawing juries can be tough work. That, court officials say, is the reason that normal D.C. residents should take jury summonses seriously. Oh, and you can be arrested for being a no-show.

UPDATE, 11:15 a.m.: The Post has more details on Gray’s jury duty:

Gray and the other prospective jurors will be interviewed to determine whether they should be one of 14 jurors to hear the case against Delonte Gadsden, who is charged with a 2011 case of possession with intent to distribute marijuana and cocaine. Gadsden was also charged with assault on a police officer and tampering with evidence.

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