NEW YORK (Court TV) — Sean "Puffy" Combs hedged his bets Wednesday. He brought the best lawyers money can buy to the first day of jury selection in his bribery and weapons possession trial, but he also carried a well-worn copy of the New Testament.

The rap king thumbed the miniature edition as state Supreme Court Judge Charles Solomon began questioning potential panelists for the trial, expected to begin next week and last more than a month. The judge, worried the length of the trial would be discouraging, promised jurors "a very interesting case."

When they entered his court, none of the approximately 260 prospective jurors knew the identity of the defendant, but it didn't take long for some to figure it out.

"Oh, my God!" stage-whispered one prospective juror, a young black woman, as she passed through the courtroom doors and saw Combs standing next to famed defense attorney Johnnie Cochran. The stunned woman threw her hand over her mouth and then smiled broadly before taking her seat.

Courtroom sketch of Combs

"Is that him? That is him," a middle-aged Hispanic woman said to a fellow juror.

Most of the Manhattan residents, however, shuffled in without noticing Combs, who stood facing the gallery in a conservative pin-striped blue suit. Only a small percentage of each of three jury pools recognized Combs, and those that did elbowed each other, stared at Combs and generally seemed tickled by the occasion.

The panel selected will weigh charges against Combs and two co-defendants stemming from a 1999 shooting at the Times Square disco, Club New York. Combs' protege, rapper Jamal "Shyne" Barrow, is accused of shooting three clubgoers and faces attempted murder charges. Combs and his bodyguard, Anthony "Wolf" Jones, fled the scene in an SUV with actress/singer Jennifer Lopez. When police stopped the car, they found a gun, and both Combs and Jones face weapons possession charges. The pair are also accused of trying to bribe a witness, chauffeur Wardel Fenderson.

If convicted, Combs could spend 15 years in prison.

On Wednesday, the judge dismissed panelists unable serve because of work or personal obligation. A handful of potential jurors were also removed because they knew people involved with the case. By days end, the judge had whittled the pool to about 150.

Those that remain will be questioned extensively about their exposure to media coverage of the shooting and its aftermath. Solomon will begin individual questioning of pool members Thursday morning to determine what articles and news casts they saw and heard, and whether they have formed any opinions about the players in the case.

Originally, Solomon planned to question only those who admitted seeing coverage of the case, but after Barrow's attorney, Murray Richman, said that "you'd have to be deaf, dumb and blind" to have missed the publicity, the judge agreed to question every prospective juror.

Before sending the panelists home, Solomon admonished them not to discuss the case with anyone and to avoid press coverage.

That was a tall order for anyone leaving the courthouse. Camera crews from across the country and Europe were set up outside the front doors. Combs, accompanied by bodyguards and his mother, pushed through the crowd and into a waiting silver Cadillac.

His attorneys, Cochran and Benjamin Brafman, are under a gag order not to speak about the facts of the case, but they spoke briefly outside the court about their client.

"His demeanor is that of an innocent person," Cochran said.

Brafman added, "All we want is a level playing field for Mr. Combs."