U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein has handled numerous weighty cases in his nearly three decades on the bench, including matters involving Trump, the 9/11 attacks and Sudanese genocide. Now, the 92-year-old Manhattan judge is presiding over what could be his biggest case yet. Hellerstei n arraigned Nicolás Maduro and Maduro’s wife, Cilia Flores, on Monday, kickstarting a judicial assignment that was on hold for six years as Maduro eluded arrest after U.S. prosecutors first indicted him. Follow along for live updates here. More coverage Venezuela 9 hours ago Live updates: Nicolás Maduro, Cilia Flores plead not guilty Venezuela 7 hours ago SEE IT: Maduro appears to give Chopper 4 a ‘thumbs up' en route to Manhattan court In the meantime, Hellerstein, a Clinton appointment, has been presiding over cases involving some of Maduro’s co-defendants. He presided over Trump’s hush money trial along with other high-profile cases. Maduro and his wife were transported from jail in Brooklyn to a Manhattan courtroom before rush hour. He appeared to give Chopper 4 a “thumbs up” as he was removed from a vehicle. Hellerstein started his legal career as a clerk with the Hon. Edmund Palmiere in the U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York. He later joined the U.S. Army and served in private practice for a number of years. A Clinton appointment, he was confirmed in October 1998 and assumed senior status in January 2011. Senior status is semi-retirement for eligible judges, giving them extra flexibility and a reduced caseload while creating a judicial vacancy for the next appointment. ...read more read less