Clinton caught in jury trap

It was supposed to be the routine jury selection for just another gangland shooting in the Bronx, one of the toughest boroughs of New York.

But the identity of juror 142 guaranteed national attention. On the questionnaire, where it asks for previously held jobs, he filled in "president of the United States". Although it was not mentioned in court, it was clear that the prospective juror's name was Bill Clinton.

The charges against Dushon Foster include an attempted murder allegedly intended to lift his status in the Bloods, a notoriously brutal street gang. He has pleaded not guilty, but faces life if convicted.

The identity of juror 142 caused a ripple of excitement in the courtroom, but the federal prosecutor, Daniel Gitner, asked Judge Naomi Reice Buchwald to exclude him.

"Any particular questions on questionnaire 142 that you want to direct me to?" she asked. "All of them, judge," Mr Gitner replied.

The defence lawyer, Roger Stavis, wanted him brought in for the final stage of selection, face to face interviews, pointing out that some of his responses warranted further inquiry. For instance, 142 said he had twice been the victim of robbery, but had not given any further details.

Judge Buchwald admitted that letting Mr Clinton take part would give her "a story that maybe you tell somebody some day". But having a juror with secret service bodyguards would undermine the effort to focus on the evidence.

Moreover, she added: "We all know that his pardon of Marc Rich was the subject of an investigation by the US attorney's office. That would be a traditional basis to disqualify someone from serving."

She will give a ruling today.