The Phillie Phanatic Had Jury Duty Today

Is the Constitutional right to a fair trial abrogated when one of the jurors is the Phillie Phanatic?

That’s the question I have after the Phillie Phanatic walked into the Criminal Justice Center, passed through the metal detectors, and showed up at the jury selection room with a few hundred other Philadelphians for jury duty today today.

Only the Phillie Phanatic can make Jury Duty in Philly fun, lol smh pic.twitter.com/G8AnpQPT5M

— Kenny (@KayDee215) October 17, 2016

OK, so technically my constitutional question is moot, as the Phanatic wasn’t actually picked to serve — he was at the CJC for Juror Appreciation Week, where Villanova men’s basketball coach Jay Wright gave a speech about the importance of serving on a jury.

The Hon. Sheila Woods-Skipper is President Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia; she told prospective jurors today that 20 percent of Philadelphians ignore the jury summons when it comes. “When they don’t come there are cases that can’t be heard because don’t have enough jurors to supply each of the courtrooms,” she said.

It was an honor speaking to Philadelphia jurors on Juror Appreciation Day ! pic.twitter.com/pSBpw8yZ2Z

— Jay Wright (@CoachJayWright) October 17, 2016

Phillie Phanatic reporting for jury duty this morning. Proudly doing his civic duty. pic.twitter.com/i5g84S6umD

— Michael Harris (@mhgophils) October 17, 2016

Philadelphia once had a “scofflaw juror court,” but it was abandoned in April due to lack of effectiveness.

Perhaps the Phillie Phanatic’s appearance will get more people to go to jury duty. Probably not, but one thing’s for sure: If he fired the juror checks out of his hot dog cannon, people would totally be more excited to show up.