Dannemeyer to Explain Court Disappearance : Jury duty: Ex-congressman reportedly went AWOL Oct. 18 during juror selections. Judge wants to know why.

Most people evade jury duty by failing to show up. But an Orange County judge wants to know why former U.S. Rep. William E. Dannemeyer showed up--and then cut out after he repeatedly tried to be excused from service.

Presiding Orange County Superior Court Judge Donald E. Smallwood ordered Dannemeyer to appear in court Monday to explain his hourslong disappearance Oct. 18, when Dannemeyer was supposed to be waiting with other potential jurors at the courthouse.

A conservative known for championing Christian causes, Dannemeyer, 64, of Fullerton served in Congress for more than a decade before a 1992 bid for a U.S. Senate seat failed. He did not return phone calls seeking comment Tuesday. Smallwood declined to discuss the matter.

“If he told us he had a (scheduling) conflict, we would have willingly and graciously postponed his service,” said Orange County Jury Commissioner Alan Slater. “He was convinced he should be excused from service.”

Court records show that Dannemeyer arrived for jury duty but asked to be excused from service because he believed attorneys would not choose him after learning he was a congressman.

When that request was denied, Dannemeyer asked to see the presiding judge, who also rejected the request, court records show. Dannemeyer later was sent to a courtroom for jury selection and entered the court despite a posted order asking jurors to remain outside, according to court records.

The former congressman was ordered out of the courtroom, but was nowhere to be found when potential jurors were eventually brought before the judge. He showed up about 20 minutes later, and the judge sent him back to the jury assembly room because selection had already begun, according to court records.

Dannemeyer was last seen about 11:15 a.m. on Oct. 18, when he was ordered back to the jury room. He was next seen about 4:30 p.m., Slater said.

“At a time when every citizen, including lawyers, officeholders, supervisorial aides, and even judges, are expected to fulfill their obligation as jurors, I am certain that you realize the importance of this letter,” Smallwood wrote in a letter to Dannemeyer ordering his appearance on Monday.

Slater said Dannemeyer’s political background does not make him ineligible for jury duty, and noted that other public figures have served on juries.