Even an internationally famous author sometimes is called upon to perform his civic duty.

Horror-story writer Stephen King of Bangor is a member of the current jury pool at the U.S. District Court in Bangor, and came under consideration Monday as a juror in two trials.

Like the other 59 members of the federal jury pool, King was chosen from voter registration lists for Penobscot County and several other counties in northern, eastern and central Maine. He and the rest of the jury pool are expected to serve for a jury term of four to six months.

Federal juries were selected Monday for four trials to be heard this month, including one criminal case and three civil cases.

The author asked to be excused from two of the civil cases, because he wasn’t going to be in town. King wasn’t chosen as a juror for either of the two remaining trials, one of which will start Tuesday.

King and his fellow pool members are expected to appear for another jury-selection session this spring.