Today, President Nicolás Maduro will appear in a U.S. federal court, where he will be judged by one of the most senior active judges in the federal judiciary.
Following Maduro's arrest, 92-year-old Orthodox Jewish federal judge Alvin Hellerstein was appointed to oversee the criminal proceedings against the former Venezuelan president.
The proceedings will take place at the Southern District of New York courthouse in Manhattan, widely regarded as one of the most influential courts in the United States.
Hellerstein is among the longest-serving active federal judges in the country and has presided over terrorism and national security cases, complex financial disputes, and major civil lawsuits, including those connected to the 9/11 attacks.
According to the indictment, Maduro faces serious federal charges, including drug trafficking, government corruption, and terrorism-related offenses.