Music mogul Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs is bracing for a significant legal battle, with a court hearing on Thursday confirming that his trial for racketeering and sex trafficking charges is set to begin on May 5, 2024. Judge Arun Subramanian made this ruling, stating that Combs will remain in custody until the trial.
The case has attracted considerable attention, particularly because of Judge Subramanian’s historic role. Appointed to the Southern District of New York in March 2023, he is the first South Asian judge to serve on this bench. He took over this trial after Judge Andrew L. Carter Jr. recused himself.
Judge Subramanian boasts an impressive legal background. Born in Pittsburgh to Indian immigrant parents, he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science and English from Case Western Reserve University and graduated from Columbia Law School, where he excelled academically and served as Executive Articles Editor for the Columbia Law Review. His career began as a law clerk for Judge Dennis Jacobs on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, and he later clerked for Judge Gerard E. Lynch in the Southern District of New York, as well as the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Before his judicial appointment, Subramanian was a successful partner at Susman Godfrey LLC in New York City, specializing in commercial and bankruptcy law.
The upcoming trial is expected to be a high-profile event, attracting significant media and public interest. Both legal teams are likely to be well-prepared, and the outcome could have far-reaching implications for Combs and the broader music industry.
