NEW YORK (AP) — David Letterman, the familiar face of “The Late Show with David Letterman,” found himself in a unique position on Monday as he answered questions instead of asking them. A federal judge in New York City put him through a kind of audition to determine if he would serve as a juror in a criminal trial related to cryptocurrency fraud.
In the serious atmosphere of the courtroom, Judge P. Kevin Castel questioned the well-known comedian, who was referred to in court as “Juror 16.” He was one of many potential jurors undergoing questioning to create a group of 12 jurors and four alternates.
Before reaching this stage, the potential jurors had already gone through an initial round of questioning where some were dismissed due to personal hardships, like health issues or jobs that could not spare them. The trial is expected to last under two weeks.
As Letterman reached this critical point in the selection process, the judge asked, “Where do you live?”
Letterman, known for his humor, replied with a quip, saying, “Hartford.” However, he quickly clarified, “No, it’s a joke.” If true, his answer would have disqualified him since Hartford is in Connecticut, outside the jurisdiction of jurors for this trial.
“Nice try,” the judge remarked, humorously pointing out that Letterman likely avoided mentioning Queens, which is also outside the necessary area, located in the Eastern District of New York.
After revealing that he actually lives in Westchester County, Letterman and the judge exchanged nearly three dozen questions and answers. During this dialogue, both the judge and the other jurors heard some familiar details about Letterman’s life: he was born in Indianapolis, graduated from Ball State University in Indiana, and has a 20-year-old son attending college in Massachusetts.
When asked about his occupation, Letterman humorously stated that he works for “a company called Netflix.”
The judge continued with his inquiries, asking about Letterman’s personal life.
“I’ve had both [a spouse and significant other]. Currently, I just have the spouse,” Letterman said with a grin.
When asked how he stays informed about current events, Letterman shared, “Every morning I used to pick up the paper from the front porch. Now, I just go onto the computer for a mix of news from various sources around the world.”
He also expressed his interest in sports, saying, “I’m happy football is back. It’s an exciting time in baseball. I enjoy motor sports and pretty much what many Americans watch on TV.”
When the judge asked if he was a fan of the Indianapolis Colts, Letterman replied, “Big Colts fan. 0 and 2, but still a fan,” referring to the team’s losses in their first two games this season.
As far as hobbies go, Letterman mentioned his love for fishing, skiing, and spending time outdoors.
“Have you ever been called for jury duty before?” the judge inquired.
“I’ve been called many times but just couldn’t make it happen,” Letterman answered.
“Well, maybe this will be your lucky day,” the judge responded, aware that Letterman had a good chance of being selected.
“It would be a pleasure,” Letterman said, expressing his willingness to serve.
In the end, just before the jury was sworn in, Letterman was dismissed when a prosecutor exercised a “strike,” which allows attorneys to dismiss potential jurors without needing to provide a reason. This was the prosecutor’s third out of four possible strikes, and Letterman did not receive any explanation for his removal.
