Federal judges are not elected by voters. They are nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate. Once appointed, they can serve for life and do not have to run for reelection.
In a federal criminal case, this means the judge handling important decisions—such as evidence rulings, courtroom procedure, and sentencing—may have been on the bench for decades. The federal system operates under its own rules, expectations, and stakes, which makes it very different from other court systems.
