Former President Obama Performs Civic Duty, Reports for Chicago Jury (VIDEOS)

Obama departed his home in the Kenwood neighborhood and arrived at the Richard J. Daley Center shortly after 10 a.m. wearing a dark sport coat and dress shirt. The 44th president waved to the people who had gathered outside the courthouse after hearing that the former president would be showing up.

"I am surprised that he's actually coming. I thought if anything he should have some political pull to get out," said Sharon Mindock, who works at the Daley Center, ABC7Chicago reported.

Obama was videotaped shaking hands with would-be jurors inside the building.

​Walter Palmer was also summoned for jury for the first time on Wednesday. "This is what happens every time, right?" Palmer joked.

"It shows us all that I don't have a good excuse [for not showing up] and it's an important duty for all of us. So if he's going to show up, I guess we all have to show up for this," Palmer said.

​Though Obama is the highest-ranking former public official to be called to jury duty in Chicago's recent history, he is not the first former president to report for jury duty. In 2015, former President George W. Bush was called for jury in Dallas, Texas, and in 2003, former President Bill Clinton reported for jury duty in a federal court in New York City.