BOSTON, Massachusetts - January 18, 2011 - A pet cat has been summoned for jury duty - and has been told by courts that he must attend.

Despite owner Anna Esposito's protestations that a mistake has been made, a jury commissioner has ruled that Sal the cat must attend the court.

She wrote that Sal was unable to speak and understand English - and included a letter from her vet saying that the animal was a domestic short-haired neutered feline.

Bizarrely, the court ruled the animal must report to the courtroom. If the matter is not resolved he will have to report on March 23 to Suffolk Superior Crown Court in Boston.

Anna wrote Sal's name on the last census form, which is presumably what started all this. “When they ask him guilty or not guilty, what's he supposed to say… meow? Sal is a member of the family so I listed him on the census form under pets but there has clearly been a mix-up.”

Husband Guy added, “I said, Sal, what's this? I was shocked. He likes to sit on my knee and watch crime shows with me but even so he's still underqualified for jury duty, if you ask me.”

There are ten statutory disqualifications preventing people from serving on a jury, and Mrs. Esposito said Sal was not suitable because he could not understand the language.

Apparently, jurors are not expected to have a perfect command of the English language.

The other exemptions did not apply because Sal was not ill, nor too old or a convicted felon.
It is thought he accidentally ended up on the juror list when paperwork was misread at the last census.

Ed. Note: Does the stupidity of the United States bureaucracy know no bounds? I guess not.