A London court is set to rule on Tuesday whether WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange will be granted one final appeal in England to challenge his extradition to the United States on espionage charges. The decision by two judges in the High Court could potentially bring an end to Assange's lengthy legal battle, or it could further prolong it. If Assange is denied the right to appeal, his legal team is concerned that he could be quickly extradited to the U.S. to face charges, although they plan to seek intervention from the European Court of Human Rights to prevent his transfer.

Assange, who is 52 years old, has been accused of 17 espionage charges and one charge of computer misuse related to the publication of classified U.S. documents on his website almost 15 years ago. Prosecutors in the U.S. allege that Assange assisted U.S. Army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning in stealing diplomatic cables and military files that were later published by WikiLeaks. During a recent hearing, Assange's lawyers argued that he was acting as a journalist uncovering U.S. military misconduct in Iraq and Afghanistan. They warned that sending him to the U.S. could result in a politically motivated prosecution and a denial of justice.

On the other hand, the U.S. government contends that Assange's actions went beyond traditional journalism and endangered lives by soliciting, stealing, and indiscriminately publishing classified government documents. Assange has been held in a high-security British prison for the past five years, and his family and supporters claim that his physical and mental health have deteriorated over the course of his legal battles. Stella Assange, who married Julian in prison in 2022, has called for his release, describing him as a political prisoner.

Assange's legal team has warned that he could face a sentence of up to 175 years in prison if convicted in the U.S., although American authorities have suggested that the actual sentence would likely be shorter. The outcome of the court ruling on Tuesday will have significant implications for Assange's future and the broader implications for press freedom and government transparency.