Jackson Summoned For Jury Duty
Mood:  surprised
Topic: Main News
SANTA BARBARA, California (AP) -- Authorities want Michael Jackson back in court -- this time as a juror.

Jackson received a jury summons at his Neverland Valley Ranch, four months after he was acquitted of child molestation charges.

"It's just one of those ironies of life that he'd be called as a juror," said Laurie Levenson, a professor at Loyola School of Law who monitored Jackson's trial.

It's unlikely that Jackson will show up for jury selection. His lawyers have filed paperwork for a deferment based on the fact that he now lives in Bahrain.

"He is permanently living outside of the United States," Thomas Mesereau, who defended Jackson against the child molestation charges, said Wednesday.

Jury Commissioner Gary Blair said Jackson likely will be excused from serving.

"All he has to do is show he has legal residency somewhere else and he'll be exempted," Blair said.

Blair said he summoned Ronald Reagan when he was president but granted him a deferment until he was out of office.

Actress Bo Derek, also a local resident, received at least two jury summonses and served on one panel without incident.

Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Source-CNN

http://www.cnn.com/2005/LAW/10/20/jackson.jury.duty.ap/index.html