Attorney Tony Buzbee Barred from Practicing in Southern New York District, Could Impact Ongoing Diddy Lawsuits

Tony Buzbee, the controversial attorney known for filing high-profile lawsuits against figures like Jay-Z and Diddy, is no longer permitted to practice law in the Southern District of New York.

This means Buzbee is barred from litigating cases in key areas, including New York City’s five boroughs and surrounding counties like Bronx, Westchester, and Rockland. He has filed over a dozen lawsuits against Diddy in the area.

Meghann Cuniff reported that Buzbee’s admission application to the district was denied after he failed to request permission before submitting it in January 2025. The oversight came to light amid his involvement in a lawsuit accusing Jay-Z and Diddy of sexual assault, prompting the Committee on Grievances for the Southern District of New York to take action.

His lawsuit against Jay-Z is dismissed and not coming back, and now Tony Buzbee is trying to ensure he can keep litigating his other lawsuits against Diddy because his admission application in the Southern District of New York was denied. pic.twitter.com/NuKOU7R38W

— Meghann Cuniff (@meghanncuniff) February 22, 2025

Buzbee is attempting to gain “pro hac vice” admission to continue litigating his cases against Diddy, though the process remains uncertain. Pro hac vice is a legal term that allows an attorney to represent a client in a jurisdiction where they are not licensed to practice law, provided they obtain special permission from the court for a specific case.

Earlier this month, Buzbee voluntarily dismissed the sexual assault lawsuit against Diddy and Jay-Z, which accused them of raping a 13-year-old girl in 2000. Following the dismissal, Jay-Z and Roc Nation called the allegations “frivolous” and “without merit,” while Jay-Z revealed the emotional and financial toll the case had on him and his family.