The Chicago Forum and LLSA Present: Capture and Prosecution of Nicolás Maduro: Constitutional and International Law Perspectives
Room IV
1111 East 60th Street, Chicago, Illinois 60637
On January 3rd, 2026, the United States conducted an unprecedented military operation in Venezuela to capture the country’s autocratic leader, Nicolás Maduro. The mission to capture and prosecute Maduro on drug trafficking and narcoterrorism charges has brought forth major questions for both constitutional law and international law about the scope of the executive’s power abroad and the judiciary’s jurisdiction over heads of state. Please join us for a timely discussion on the legal justifications and consequences of Maduro’s apprehension and trial. Our discussion will explore the topic from the perspectives of domestic constitutional law and international law, highlighting points of agreement and tension between the two sources of legal doctrine.