Alvin K. Hellerstein, the judge assigned to conduct the trial of Nicolás Maduro, the ousted leader of Venezuela, has long been a widely admired member of the federal bench. The best way for him to honor the system to which he has devoted decades of his life would be to withdraw from the case because, at 92, he is simply too old, in my view, to preside over a matter of this magnitude.
Last year, the judge presided over the six-week trial of Charlie Javice, the chief executive of a start-up who was convicted of defrauding JPMorgan Chase of $175 million. The defense has sought a new trial in the case in part because, “during trial, at least one newspaper article reported that the presiding judge was sleeping, at times, during the proceedings.”
According to one person familiar with the case, prosecutors and defense lawyers conferred during the trial about how to address Judge Hellerstein’s episodes of sleep, especially during the afternoons, but they jointly decided, ultimately, to do nothing, out of fear of offending him. How will the American legal system look to the international audience following the Maduro case if the presiding judge starts to nod off in the afternoons?
6 Comments
TheAlbatross@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 12 pts · 248d
I don't know how the judge of this trial can matter in the least. It's a kangaroo court.
SanctimoniousApe@lemmings.world · 5 pts · 248d
From what I've read, I'm not so sure of that with this judge. Never mind Trump has been handed several setbacks in courts, including recently being forced to withdraw National Guard troops from our cities.
It only becomes a kangaroo court when it reaches the Supreme Court, which this trial will hopefully take long enough to outlast Trump.
JesusChristLover420@lemmy.sdf.org · 1 pts · 248d
Do not have so much faith in humanity's ability to resist the Antichrist
SanctimoniousApe@lemmings.world · 1 pts · 248d
Since God was created in man's image, it follows that humanity IS the Antichrist.
ETA: And yes, I said that having read your username. I don't know you, so there's really not much against you personally behind what I said, but there was really no other way I could think of to say that. I prefer to be truthful, and what I said is the real truth to the best of my ability to determine.
_stranger_@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 248d
All the more reason to GTFO, but it's probably not a coincidence the judge is over 90.
Hayduke@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 248d