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92-year-old judge handling Maduro case 'doesn't give a s—t what anyone thinks about him'
(www.politico.com)
this post was submitted on 06 Jan 2026
140 points (98.6% liked)
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Why hasn't a judge of 92 years of age retired? Is it for entertainment so he has something to do with his day? Did he make horrible financial decisions and can never afford to retire? Or does he need to feel respected and powerful? Whatever the reason, it seems more in self interest than in public service.
Whatever the reason, it seems more in self interest than in public service
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Hellerstein has ruled against President Donald Trump or his administration in other high-profile cases, including the charges involving alleged hush money payments to pornstar Stormy Daniels. Hellerstein twice rejected Trump’s bids to move the case to federal court.
Just two months ago, an appeals court overturned one of those rulings.
Hellerstein also issued a sweeping order last May blocking the Trump administration from deporting immigrants under the Alien Enemies Act with little, if any, due process. The ruling essentially halted such deportations in the Southern District of New York, where the judge sits.
Maybe he's afraid to let Trump appoint his replacement?
If he's 92 now, he would have been in his late 80's and into his early 90's under the Biden administration and should have retired then.
So then the answer is the power one. Just like RBG who's ego got in the way and ensured that any slightly good thing she did would be completely undone or overshadowed by her inability to step down in time
Goddamn the bar is so fucking low
Supreme Court judges don't seem to retire until they're weeks from their deathbed.
The US president turns 80 this year, and has shown clear signs of major mental faculty decline for many years.
Self-interest is core to the US government and judicial systems.
All judges should not care about what others think about them. That said, 92 years, may be too much for a judge to still be active
They've been keeping him on ice and IV meds just for this trial
Is that the new American health system reform?
No, I think that was demolition man...
So he’ll probably die from old age before the case goes anywhere?
Fucking hell the US is such a gerontocracy.
Well, I guess that's one way to announce impartiality. Judges are meant to determine if laws have been broken, nothing more nothing less.
Show trial, to be followed by high profile execution.
Welcome to fascism, for the foreseeable future. You were afraid of that "arrogant" brown lady, and this is what you chose.
Can he even say his own name?
Guys, this judge was hand picked to give the results the admin wants.
The article says the judge has ruled against Trump and his administration in the past. What evidence do you have that he was “hand picked?”
I have my reasons to suspect it's a kangaroo court. The people who are truly in power are pulling the strongs. He is a Zionist and his son is a settler in Israel, so it seems to all align. I'd love to be proven wrong though.
92? Does he even know who he is?
Probably mentally incapable of it too
There is such a thing as being old and cognizant, but the scrutiny isn't misplaced.
Wow, the amount of baseless criticism ITT that doesn’t in any way suggest the commenters have read the article is insane.