Caroline Kennedy Jury Duty: Former First Daughter Assigned to Crack Case
Caroline Kennedy is obligated by law to serve as a juror, despite being the daughter of U.S. President John F. Kennedy.
Jury duty, similar to paying taxes, is mandatory, much to the disdain of many busy Americans today. However, jury duty is vital to the administration of justice and is a compulsory service.
Reports on Wednesday indicated that 55-year-old Kennedy will sit on a New York City jury for the trial of a man accused of dealing crack cocaine, according to the Associated Press.
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The author and attorney was selected to serve as a juror during Nelson Chatman's trial in state Supreme Court in Manhattan.
When questioned by law enforcement during the jury pool, Kennedy did not mention that assassins killed her father and uncle when asked if she or any member of her family had ever been a victim of a crime.
"My name is Caroline Kennedy," started the niece of Robert F. Kennedy, according to the The New York Post. "I live on the Upper East Side. I've lived at my present address for 25 years."
Kennedy's other answers involved her husband, a law degree, and about her ties to law enforcement.
"My brother, years ago, worked as an assistant district attorney," said the only living child of President Kennedy and First Lady Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy, referring to her brother, the late John Jr.
Regardless of being a high-profile individual, Kennedy will "absolutely" serve as a fair juror, said Mark Jankowitz, the lawyer for defendant Chatman.
"Otherwise, I wouldn't pick them," the attorney told The New York Post.
Jury duty affects the lives of millions of New Yorkers each year, and over 600,000 people serve annually, according to nyjuror.gov.
The mandatory duty arrives just as Kennedy was considering becoming the next American ambassador to serve in Japan.
The former First Daughter also recently made real estate headlines after listing two large parcels of land in Martha's Vineyard for the combined asking price of $45 million, according to The Boston Herald.
