Who is Arun Subramanian? The Indian-origin judge presiding over Sean 'Diddy' Combs’ trial

Indian-American judge Arun Subramanian is presiding over the well-publicised federal trial of rapper and producer Sean "Diddy" Combs at a momentous time for the legal system and the entertainment industry.

Serious charges including sex trafficking, racketeering conspiracy, and transportation with the intent to engage in prostitution are at the centre of the trial, which got underway in New York on Monday. Combs might be imprisoned for life if found guilty. It is anticipated that the proceedings will run for about eight weeks.

The trial is being conducted at the courtroom of US district judge Arun Subramanian, who was appointed a federal judge by former President Joe Biden in 2022.

Being the first South Asian judge appointed to the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, his appointment to the bench represents a significant milestone.

Arun Srinivas Subramanian was born in 1979 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to Indian immigrants. His mother was a bookkeeper, and his father was a control systems engineer. Before earning a Juris Doctor from Columbia Law School in 2004, Subramanian completed his undergraduate studies at Case Western Reserve University.

He started his legal career as a clerk for Judge Dennis Jacobs at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. He then worked as a clerk for Judge Gerard E. Lynch at the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. Interestingly, he went on to work as a law clerk for the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg of the United States Supreme Court.

Mr. Subramanian became a partner at the renowned New York law firm Susman Godfrey LLP after joining in 2007. He has recovered more than $1 billion for clients over the course of his legal career, including those who were defrauded by unlawful business practices. In addition, he has fought for consumer rights and represented victims of child pornography trafficking.

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With a strong dedication to public service, he has taken on a number of public interest cases and has long served on the pro bono panel for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.

Senator Chuck Schumer backed his nomination to the bench, and his appointment is a significant step towards more South Asians being represented in the American judiciary.