Sean 'Diddy' Combs has secured a procedural victory in his ongoing federal case.

A US court has approved his request for an expedited appeal - a decision that could bring oral arguments forward to April 2026.

The ruling offers the music mogul, who is currently serving a 50-month prison sentence for trafficking individuals in prostitution, a chance to challenge elements of his conviction before his sentence nears completion.

Combs' legal team had argued a standard appeals process, which can take 12 to 18 months, would likely make any ruling irrelevant if completed after he has served most of his term.

According to Fox News, the court's decision to fast-track the appeal was not an indication of doubt about the conviction or evidence but was made to ensure the appeal process remains meaningful.

Former federal prosecutor Neama Rahmani, the former federal prosecutor who now heads West Coast Trial Lawyers, said the court recognised the appeal would be largely meaningful if it concluded only after Combs had already served most of his term.

He explained this shift may allow Combs to push for a transition to a halfway house or home confinement sooner than expected.

Combs' legal representatives are also believed to be exploring other avenues for sentence reduction, including the possibility of a presidential pardon from Donald Trump.

Criminal defence lawyer Nicole Blank Becker told Fox News a pardon from Trump is "not out of the realm", particularly given the US President's past willingness to grant clemency to high-profile individuals.

She added a pardon is rarely a straightforward request as Combs would need to demonstrate remorse and avoid appearing confrontational towards the federal system.

Becker also explained successful clemency petitions are often handled discreetly, through intermediaries with established political connections.

Donald Trump, 79, previously acknowledged Combs had requested a presidential pardon.

The President has said he was open to reviewing the matter, depending on whether he believed the case had been handled fairly.

Sources have told the likes of TMZ Combs remains confident Trump will grant him a pardon in 2026.

The rapper's eight-week trial earlier this year resulted in acquittals on charges of sex trafficking and racketeering, but he was convicted on prostitution-related offences.

Legal experts have described the expedited appeal as a "lifeline" rather than a guarantee of a reduced sentence.

It offers Combs an opportunity to make his case before his full term expires.

The Bad Boy Records founder is serving his sentence at the Federal Correctional Institution at Fort Dix and has been ordered to pay a fine of approximately £390,000 ($500,000.)

Following his release, he will face five years of supervised probation.

His current release date is set for 8 May 2028.