View source for Southern District of New York (SDNY)

The '''United States District Court for the Southern District of New York''' (known colloquially as the '''SDNY''') is one of the most influential and active federal courts in the [[United States]]. Based in the Daniel Patrick Moynihan U.S. Courthouse in lower Manhattan, it has jurisdiction over Manhattan, the Bronx, and several northern counties.

=== "The Mother Court" ===
The SDNY is often called "The Mother Court" because of its historical significance and its handling of complex international white-collar, terrorism, and organized crime cases.

=== Role in the Maduro Prosecution (2026) ===
Under the direction of U.S. Attorney General [[Pam Bondi]], the SDNY is the lead prosecutorial office for the case against [[The Capture of Nicolás Maduro|Nicolás Maduro]].
* '''The Prosecution Team:''' The case is being handled by the office's '''Terrorism and International Narcotics Unit'''. 
* '''Security Measures:''' The courthouse has been fortified with blast-resistant barriers and elite tactical units ahead of Maduro's expected January 5 arraignment.
* '''Judicial Oversight:''' While a magistrate judge handles the initial arraignment, the trial is expected to be assigned to a senior district judge with experience in complex international racketeering.

=== Key Recent Cases ===
Aside from the 2026 Maduro prosecution, the SDNY has handled:
* The trial of '''Ross Ulbricht''' (Silk Road).
* The prosecution of '''Bernie Madoff''' (Ponzi scheme).
* The 1993 and 2001 '''World Trade Center bombing''' trials.

=== See also ===
* [[Pam Bondi]]
* [[The Capture of Nicolás Maduro]]
* [[Federal Arraignment of Nicolás Maduro]]