Jury selection begins
Prospective jurors filed into the courtroom just after 10 a.m., more than an hour and a half after Judge Arun Subramanian had called on them to muster.
"Welcome to the US District Court for the Southern District of New York," Subramanian said. "With the exception of voting, for most citizens, the honor and privilege of jury service is their participation in the democratic process."
Combs is seated in a crew neck sweater over a collared shirt after he received permission to wear something other than the beige jail smock he has worn during prior court appearances.
"This is a criminal case. It is entitled United States of America vs. Sean Combs," Subramanian said. "Mr. Combs denies these allegations and he has pleaded not guilty to these charges."
Several hundred prospective jurors filled out a written questionnaire. Responses form the basis for the first part of jury selection. The judge will ask follow-up questions to individual prospective jurors including whether they have any feelings about law enforcement personnel, hip hop artists or sexual assault victims that would prevent them from being fair and impartial.
They will also be asked what they've heard about the case in recent days and whether they've been through a traumatic event that could make it difficult to hear from witnesses who describe trauma.
