Pop superstar Michael Jackson has once again been summoned to appear in court – but this time as a juror.
The singer received the jury summons only four months after being acquitted on child molestation charges. However it is unlikely that Jackson will make this return to court and his lawyers have filed paperwork for a deferment.
"He is permanently living outside of the United States [and] the proper procedures are being followed," said attorney Thomas Mesereau.
Anyone deliberately avoiding jury duty can be found in contempt, fined up to $1,500 or even jailed. But Jury Commissioner Gary Blair said the singer appears to be in the clear.
"All he has to do is show he has legal residency somewhere else and he'll be exempted," said Blair, "it's no big deal."
"You're not legally supposed to exempt someone just because they're a celebrity," Blair said. "I summoned Ronald Reagan when he was president but granted him a deferment until he was out of office."
The singer has been out of the country since his trial ended, although there has been no indication that he plans to sell his 2,000-acre California ranch, Neverland.
Source: News-Press/AP/MJJForum/eMJey