On October 28th local time, U.S. federal judge Alvin Hellerstein, who was responsible for handling the case of Venezuelan President Maduro, passed away at the age of 92.
According to the Associated Press, Laura Taylor Swain, the Chief Judge of the Federal District Court for the Southern District of New York, confirmed in a statement that Hellerstein passed away on the morning of the 28th under the company of his family. Swain praised him as an 'outstanding judge' who continued to fulfill his duties diligently until the last moment of his life.
Just two weeks ago, Hellerstein also presided over the trial of Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores.
In the early hours of January 3, 2026, the U.S. military violently invaded Venezuela, forcibly taking control of Maduro and his wife and bringing them to the United States. The U.S. judicial authorities charged them with crimes such as drug smuggling. Currently, both individuals are also facing new charges related to torture and abuse.
According to reports, during the bail hearing held on October 8th for Flores, Hellerstein coughed several times and spoke with difficulty. He told his lawyer, “There’s a problem with my voice. As long as you can still hear me speak, I will continue.”
Hellerstein had previously scheduled the trial date for Maduro and his wife to take place in June 2027. With his death, the Maduro case will be taken over by federal judge Ana Lisa Torres. Torres was involved in overseeing Venezuela's presidential elections in 2006 and has been a federal judge in the United States since 2013.
Hellerstein was appointed as a federal judge by then-U.S. President Clinton in 1998. During his nearly 30-year judicial career, he presided over cases related to the “gatekeeping fee” lawsuit involving Trump, as well as several cases involving the September 11 terrorist attacks.
