LONDON (AP) – A judge has refused to let Julian Assange move from a glass-enclosed dock and sit with his lawyers at a London court hearing.

The first stage of a hearing on whether Britain should extradite the WikiLeaks founder to the United States to face spying charges wrapped up on Thursday.

Assange complained of struggling to hear, concentrate and communicate with his legal team during proceedings this week. His lawyers called Assange “a vulnerable person” who has suffered from depression.

But District Judge Vanessa Baraitser said she didn’t think his condition required a change in seating arrangements.

Assange faces espionage charges over the leaking of classified government documents. The extradition hearing is scheduled to resume May 18.

Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. PHOTO AP