Pitt, who turns 51 today, showed up at the court house in downtown LA last Friday to be interviewed for jury duty along with dozens of other potential jurors.
But after waiting hours for his turn in the jury box, the court let him know his services wouldn't be needed - he'd be too much of a distraction.
Although it would also have been difficult for Brad to make time in his busy schedule to serve on a jury, he actually thought it would be interesting, a Pitt insider tells MailOnline.
'Brad was hoping he might get picked to serve on a short case,' says the source. 'But the problem was, he would actually be required to serve for as long as it took for the case to be decided.
Most cases in Los Angeles are decided within a seven-day period, but if the case goes longer, the juror would be have to remain on the jury for as long as it takes.
According to LA attorney William R. Lively, potential jurors are randomly selected from a community using driver's licenses, State ID's and voter registration lists.
In most cases, the fact a person is a celebrity isn't noticed until that person actually shows up at court.
'Like any other potential juror, Brad would have received a jury summons that required him to travel downtown and be interviewed by the judge or attorneys in what is called voir dire," Lively tells MailOnline exclusively.
'This is a system of examination whereby both the prosecution and defense have the opportunity to object to a particular juror.
'In most cases as soon as it's discovered that a potential juror is a major celebrity, that person is dismissed, but that is not always the case.'
Pitt was called for jury duty in 2003. It is not known if he actually served on a jury but he was not sent home. He wore a juror badge, had a Subway sandwich for lunch with the other prospective jurors.
