Former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, recently pleaded not guilty in a Manhattan federal court to charges including narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy, and weapons possession. The high-profile proceedings are being overseen by 92-year-old US District Judge Alvin Hellerstein. This case has drawn attention to the unique structure of the American judicial system, where federal judges are granted lifetime appointments under Article III of the US Constitution, with no mandatory retirement age. This system is designed to shield judges from political pressure and ensure their independence, allowing them to serve as long as they are willing and able. Judge Hellerstein, appointed by President Bill Clinton in 1998, is one of the oldest active federal judges and has a decades-long career presiding over significant and complex cases, including those related to the September 11 attacks, Sudanese genocide claims, and even matters involving former President Donald Trump. His assignment to the Maduro case stems from his long-standing involvement in Venezuelan drug-trafficking cases, with the initial indictment against Maduro dating back to 2020. Maduro's legal team includes acclaimed lawyer Barry J. Pollack, who also represented Julian Assange and secured his release in 2024. Maduro and Flores were captured by US forces in Caracas and subsequently transported to the Brooklyn Detention Center for their arraignment in New York. The trial is anticipated to be a lengthy process, potentially spanning a year or two, given the complex legal issues and motions involved.