NEW YORK — Jury selection in Sean "Puffy" Combs' trial came to a standstill Monday morning after one of the music mogul's co-defendants, rising rapper Jamal "Shyne" Barrow, was jailed for driving without a license.

"Obviously, that's going to be a problem for us this morning," sighed state Supreme Court Judge Charles Solomon on learning that Barrow was arrested Sunday night after his Mercedes collided with a Jeep in Manhattan's Chelsea neighborhood.

Barrow was released on his own recognizance Monday night. His 20-hour journey through booking and arraignment meant Solomon had to scrap plans to spend the day screening the last of 150 potential jurors for prejudicial media exposure to the case. The delay frustrated Combs' defense team, which used the arrest to ask the judge once again to sever the cases. Solomon brushed off the request.

The judge still expects the case against Barrow, Combs and bodyguard Anthony "Wolf" Jones to open Friday. The charges stem from a Dec. 27, 1999, shooting at a Times Square nightclub. According to prosecutors, Barrow fired a 9mm semiautomatic handgun in the club, striking three bystanders. He faces attempted murder charges. Combs is accused of brandishing a gun, and he and Jones face weapons possession charges. They are also accused of trying to bribe a chauffeur to take the rap for them.

Combs, seated next to his lawyer Johnnie Cochran, frowned and covered his eyes as attorneys rescheduled jury selection. When it became clear there would be an adjournment, Combs turned toward the back of the court where his mother and publicist sat and motioned for his car to be brought around. No jurors would see his slate gray suit or smart silver tie today.

"We're disappointed," his lawyer, Benjamin Brafman, said outside the courthouse. "Mr. Combs is eager to proceed to trial, and he is confident of being acquitted."

Murray Richman, Barrow's attorney, said he had spent a long night trying to nail down the circumstances of his client's arrest and was still puzzled.

"He said to me yesterday, 'Murray, I have a license. I don't know what this is all about,'" Richman said.

After his arraignment, Barrow, a 20-year-old Brooklynite whose album "Shyne" was released on Combs' label in September, breezed past reporters without answering questions. Another of his defense attorneys, Ian Niles, said his client had done nothing wrong. Niles claimed Barrow has a Florida driver's license and said witnesses of the accident placed the blame on the driver of the Jeep. Its two occupants were hospitalized with head injuries following the collision.