Judge overseeing Maduro case, Alvin Hellerstein, dies at 92

Federal Judge Alvin Hellerstein, who was overseeing the prosecution of ousted Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro in New York, has died at the age of 92, New York Times reported on Wednesday. The newspaper said the death of the senior federal judge was confirmed to it. Hellerstein had presided over several high-profile cases during his tenure.

Hellerstein had served on the federal bench since 1998, after being appointed by President Bill Clinton. His docket included cases involving President Donald Trump and the September 11 attacks, in addition to the Maduro matter.

Maduro faces narco-terrorism and drug trafficking charges in a New York federal court, and his trial is scheduled to begin in June 2027. Court spokesperson Ed Friedland said a new judge will be randomly assigned to take over the Maduro case. The case will proceed under a different judge ahead of that scheduled trial date, with Judge Hellerstein’s other pending cases also redistributed among his colleagues on the bench.