Former US president Barack Obama received a rock star reception when he reported for jury duty in Chicago on Wednesday.

In front of a media scrum, the 44th US president arrived at the Daley Center administration building bright and early as one of 168 people selected to fulfil their civic duty.

Despite his eagerness to take part, Mr Obama was ultimately dismissed a short time later.

Mr Obama was assigned to one of 16 panels before eight of those – including the former president’s – were randomly selected to be sent home that afternoon.

“He’s gorgeous!” court clerk Sonal Joshi exclaimed after briefly catching a glimpse of Mr Obama before rushing back to her post on a lower floor of the building.

Cook County Chief Judge Tim Evans told a press conference Mr Obama was gracious to others chosen to serve on a jury.

“The public allowed him to come in and to do his duty. I thought, for example, he would be reticent about greeting them,” Mr Evans said.

“He came in and greeted the prospective jurors on both side of the panels. We had about 220 people here. He took time to greet people on both sides.”

Mr Evans said potential jurors brought copies of his books for the approachable former president to sign, shook hands, but drew the line at taking selfies.

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“He discovered that some knew they might have a chance to meet him and they brought books for him to sign,” he said.

“I saw him pause for a moment and I thought his Secret Service panel may not permit him to do that, but he said that he wanted to sign their books and he did sign.

“He said, ‘Well you can take a shot, but no selfies.’ He thought that would delay him.”

While the former president lives in Washington, he maintains a home in Chicago.

Mr Obama is not the first former president to receive a notice for jury duty. In 2015, George W Bush reported for jury duty at a Dallas courthouse.