How is a jury picked in a high-profile trial like Diddy's? Process explained

Sean John Combs a.k.a. P. Diddy's trial started on May 5, 2025, and it began with a jury selection. The rapper is faced with three federal charges, including s*x trafficking, racketeering, and transportation for prostitution. Because Diddy is a celebrity figure and his case is considered to be a high-profile case, a thorough jury selection is underway. Judge Arun Subramanian is presiding over the trial and is in charge of the selection process. The trial is happening at the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.

Many may not know the process that goes into choosing a group of jurors for a federal criminal case. According to the United States federal judicial system, the official or legal term for jury selection is "voir dire". During this phase, the presiding judge and the legal teams from both sides (defense and prosecution) will be present to determine the impartiality of the potential jury.

Diddy's case is considered to be extremely sensitive because of his fame and status. The potential jurors are selected randomly through driving records, voter registration polls, and other government databases.

More details about the jury selection process for Diddy's trial

P. Diddy's trial is one of the most high-profile and highly publicized cases of the century. This reason alone can impact the choice of jurors who will be selected during the trial. A few other reasons that could influence the potential jurors are personal opinions (bias) and connections to the industry.

Over 600 potential jurors are screened for Diddy's case. They have to fill out questionnaires regarding their personal details, their familiarity or association with the case, their media consumption, and additional details that relate to Combs' case, such as their take on celebrities, s*xual assault, forced labor, law enforcement, and more.

After a few individuals have been narrowed down from the questionnaire round, the selected individuals will move on to the questioning phase. During this phase, the selected few will be questioned by Judge Subramanian, as well as both defense and prosecution attorneys. Both sides have a limited number of times they can reject any of the jurors without giving any explanation or reason. Additionally, both sides can also request a juror to be removed from the panel by giving their reasons, such as showing bias or having a conflict of interest.

The court expects to see Diddy's lawyer challenging the potential jurors who have certain reactions to the assault video (Combs assaulting ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura in a hotel). While the prosecutors are expected to remove any jurors who are biased towards the rapper.

According to legal analyst Cheryl Bader:

"In a case like this, where celebrity and abuse intersect, both sides are effectively casting a play. They’re not just choosing jurors; they’re choosing a narrative lens."

The jury selection process is expected to go on for a week, and the opening statements are set for May 12, 2025. While the trial is expected to last for 8 to twelve weeks, the world is patiently waiting to see if Sean John Combs walks out innocent or guilty.

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