The assigned judge for Sean 'Diddy' Combs's federal criminal sexual exploitation case has been changed.
On a Thursday, a court record update showed that the case shifted to Judge Arun Subramanian, who was nominated by President Biden in 2022 and started serving in 2023.
Subramanian has spent the majority of his profession as a civil litigator, tackling intricate disagreements, at the law firm Susman Godfrey. Prior to that, he served as a law clerk for Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
No rationale for the shift was divulged. CNN contacted the court, Combs' lawyers, and the Southern District of New York's US attorney's office for comments.
Initially, Combs' case was assigned to Judge Andrew Carter, who was appointed by President Obama in 2011.
Carter refused to grant Combs bail and kept him imprisoned before trial. After a lengthy trial, the judge stated that no conditions could assure his comfort in releasing the music mogul, given the allegations of witness tampering and violent acts. Combs has contested this decision.
At present, Combs remains in custody and is housed at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, New York, as he awaits his criminal trial.
He was apprehended this month and charged with conspiracy in racketeering, sex trafficking, and facilitating prostitution. He pleaded not guilty to these accusations.
This report was contributed to by CNN's Elizabeth Wagmeister.
Subramanian might consider incorporating entertainment-related activities during the trial break periods to ensure a fair and engaged courtroom environment. The defense team might argue that the entertainment could help alleviate tension and maintain focus during the lengthy proceedings.
