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Oprah takes centre stage on the jury
From The Times
August 19, 2004
OPRAH Winfrey, the US's best-paid female entertainer, gave up her $86,538-an-hour job as a television host yesterday and instead sat attentively in court, earning just $17.20 a day.
Having put off jury service in her home city of Chicago twice before, the billionaire chat-show diva was picked to offer her judgment in the murder trial of Dion Coleman, 27, who is accused of shooting dead Walter Holley, 23, for passing him a forged $50 note.
Winfrey came well equipped to pass the time, clutching a copy of Tolstoy's Anna Karenina, the latest recommendation to members of her television book club.
At lunchtime, she joined the other visitors to Chicago's busiest, grittiest courthouse in the cafeteria where, unable to find a "breadless" turkey sandwich, she opted for one with tuna.
The only concession to her fame was being allowed to enter and leave the courthouse through a back entrance reserved for judges and senior court officials.
Otherwise, Citizen Winfrey, wearing a red jurors' sticker on the lapel of her trouser suit and carrying a white leather handbag, was treated the same as everyone else, with only the occasional reference to her day job.
When asked by judge James B. Linn to identify herself, she replied: "I'm Oprah Winfrey. I've lived in Chicago since 1983 and I have a little talk show that is my main source of work." During questioning of the pool of 50 potential jurors, Judge Linn asked whether any of them would be prejudiced against the defendant if he decided not to testify. Ms Winfrey put her hand up.
"Your name, please?" asked the judge.
"Oprah," she replied. "Are you told why the person doesn't testify?" she asked.
"No," said the judge, adding: "So, Mr Coleman might not receive a fair trial from you?"
"No," she said. "I just like to hear both sides of the case."
When she was told that she had been selected to serve on the jury she sarcastically remarked: "Oh, happy day!"
Then, to a muffled cheer from the 11 others, she got down to work, sitting herself conspicuously in the front row and diligently taking notes.
Oprah accepting $17.20 a day!????
From The Times
August 19, 2004
OPRAH Winfrey, the US's best-paid female entertainer, gave up her $86,538-an-hour job as a television host yesterday and instead sat attentively in court, earning just $17.20 a day.
Having put off jury service in her home city of Chicago twice before, the billionaire chat-show diva was picked to offer her judgment in the murder trial of Dion Coleman, 27, who is accused of shooting dead Walter Holley, 23, for passing him a forged $50 note.
Winfrey came well equipped to pass the time, clutching a copy of Tolstoy's Anna Karenina, the latest recommendation to members of her television book club.
At lunchtime, she joined the other visitors to Chicago's busiest, grittiest courthouse in the cafeteria where, unable to find a "breadless" turkey sandwich, she opted for one with tuna.
The only concession to her fame was being allowed to enter and leave the courthouse through a back entrance reserved for judges and senior court officials.
Otherwise, Citizen Winfrey, wearing a red jurors' sticker on the lapel of her trouser suit and carrying a white leather handbag, was treated the same as everyone else, with only the occasional reference to her day job.
When asked by judge James B. Linn to identify herself, she replied: "I'm Oprah Winfrey. I've lived in Chicago since 1983 and I have a little talk show that is my main source of work." During questioning of the pool of 50 potential jurors, Judge Linn asked whether any of them would be prejudiced against the defendant if he decided not to testify. Ms Winfrey put her hand up.
"Your name, please?" asked the judge.
"Oprah," she replied. "Are you told why the person doesn't testify?" she asked.
"No," said the judge, adding: "So, Mr Coleman might not receive a fair trial from you?"
"No," she said. "I just like to hear both sides of the case."
When she was told that she had been selected to serve on the jury she sarcastically remarked: "Oh, happy day!"
Then, to a muffled cheer from the 11 others, she got down to work, sitting herself conspicuously in the front row and diligently taking notes.
Oprah accepting $17.20 a day!????