CEDAR RAPIDS, IA-- Cedar Rapids Mayor Kay Halloran says

she was perfectly willing to sit on a jury in a civil lawsuit but

attorneys in the case quickly dismissed her.

Halloran, a former lawyer, says she was called on Monday to

report for jury duty at the Linn County Courthouse.

Her number was even called among a group of 16 potential jurors

to hear the lawsuit involving a traffic accident.

She says she knew chances were slim she'd be seated, however.

Mayors know lots of people and city police officers work for the

city government she oversees. She also knew the attorneys

representing both sides in the case.

After a few questions, however, she was asked to step down.

She was determined to make herself available for service,

however. When she was an attorney, she says clients would seek

advice on how to get out of jury duty. Halloran says her answer was

always the same: Do your duty.

Though she was dismissed early on, she says she would have

served cheerfully.