by Catalina Camia, USA TODAY

by Catalina Camia, USA TODAY

Imagine you're awaiting trial in Chicago and Mayor Rahm Emanuel is in the jury pool.

Alas, Emanuel was dismissed from jury duty on Tuesday but the mayor showed up as required. The voluble Democrat and former White House chief of staff was dismissed from his civic duty after a few hours.

A picture of the mayor -- sitting at a table at the courthouse as he looked over some papers -- was posted on Twitter. "Waiting patiently to be called into a jury panel," Emanuel wrote.

Spokeswoman Sarah Hamilton told the Associated Press that Emanuel and other Chicagoans on the same panel were sent home because more than enough people had showed up to serve. As for the $17.20 he earned for his service, NBC Chicago said Emanuel donated the money back to Cook County.

Given Emanuel's outspoken nature, a jury with the mayor sitting on it could have been interesting.