The lawsuit against Diddy is in full swing and is expected to last until July 4. After that, not the judge, but a twelve-member jury will decide whether the musician is guilty of, among other things, human trafficking. What do we know about the jurors and how were they selected?
The lawsuit against 55-year-old Diddy began last week Monday in the New York courthouse. The jury was also sworn in then; in American criminal cases, it decides on the guilt or innocence of a suspect. The judge ensures a fair trial, guides the jury, and decides on the sentence if the suspect is found guilty.
The swearing in of the jury is preceded by a whole process, which begins with a summons from the local court to random citizens. In the case against Diddy, more than a hundred potential jurors had come forward. They were questioned one by one in court by the judge and the lawyers, who assessed whether they were suitable. According to the juror’s handbook, honesty, intelligence, and integrity are the most important qualities.
The potential jurors are asked partly general questions in such a selection process. They are asked about their age, place of residence, marital status, hobbies, level of education, and profession. They are also asked whether they know the judge, lawyers, public prosecutors, witnesses, and other jury candidates personally.
Other questions concern their media use. How do they get news? Are they active on social media? Which websites do they like to visit? What do they already know about the lawsuit in question? It is taken into account that most jury candidates have already heard or seen something about a case like Diddy’s.
Juror with Personal Interests was Removed
Finally, the jury candidates are asked for their opinion on various topics that may come up in the process. In the case against Diddy, they were asked what they think of alcohol and drug use, gun ownership, gun laws, rich celebrities, the hip-hop industry, and the artists in that genre. They were also asked about their feelings about and any experience with the criminal justice system, (sexual) abuse, and (sexual) violence.
Both the prosecutors and Diddy’s lawyers could object to jurors. It is then up to the judge to possibly remove those persons from the jury. For example, a woman who had worked for the television channel HBO was a potential juror. Diddy’s team did not want her on the jury because HBO Max, HBO’s streaming service, had previously broadcast the docuseries The Fall of Diddy. But for the judge, that was not a reason to exclude her.
A woman who works as a marketing manager for the publisher Simon & Schutser was rejected. The publisher will release a book by AI B. Sure! later this year. The American musician accuses Diddy of having something to do with the death of Kim Porter, the mother of AI B. Sure!’s child. The marketing manager could earn extra from high book sales. Because of possible conflict of interest, she was rejected.
Other reasons for not selecting people for the jury included poor health and difficulty understanding the English language.
Jurors Receive Only A Small Fee
The final jury consists of twelve people: eight men and four women. They are between 30 and 74 years old and live in various districts of New York. Among them is an investment analyst, doctor’s assistant, massage therapist, social worker, and employee in a delicatessen. More information is not released to protect the jurors.
Six alternate jurors are ready if a juror becomes ill or for other reasons cannot appear in court. That group of six must also attend the entire process. This prevents the process from being endangered.
Jury service is considered a civic duty that you cannot easily get out of. A lot is asked of you. The jurors are expected to be present in court from Monday to Friday for eight weeks to hear all the witnesses and be presented with evidence. For this they receive a small fee of 50 to 60 dollars (approximately 40 to 50 euros) per day and a reimbursement for, for example, travel costs, parking costs and meals.
Most jurors have a job. Their employer is not obliged to continue paying the salary during jury service. The law does protect jurors against dismissal, intimidation, and coercion by the employer during the criminal trial.
Jury Must Reach Unanimous Verdict
The jurors deliberate until they unanimously agree whether Diddy, who denies all allegations, is guilty of, among other things, extortion and human trafficking. That can take minutes, but also weeks and even months.
If the jurors agree, the judge can still overturn their verdict. For example, if the judge believes that the verdict is based on insufficient evidence or if the jury has misapplied the criminal law.
If the jurors do not reach a verdict, the judge declares a so-called mistrial. The Public Prosecution Service then has three options: to drop the charges if there is a good chance that a new jury will also get stuck, to reach a settlement with the suspect, or to bring the case before the judge again. Diddy has rejected a previous settlement offer, so it remains to be seen whether he will receive a second offer. If the case comes before the judge again, the process starts all over again. Including a completely new jury.