Federal judge in charge of Nicolás Maduro’s US trial dies

Federal Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein, who was presiding over the trial of former Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro in the United States, died Wednesday at the age of 92, according to The New York Times. It is not immediately clear who will replace Hellerstein in the high-profile case, which is scheduled to begin on June 14.

Maduro was captured while sleeping at a military barracks in Caracas by elite U.S. soldiers during a lightning-fast military operation on January 3. Within less than 24 hours, he was transferred to a detention center in Brooklyn, where he remains awaiting trial.

Maduro’s case is one of the most high-profile Hellerstein has handled, but not the only one.

He presided over cases such as the claims for damages related to the Twin Towers following the 9/11 attacks, the sexual harassment case against film producer Harvey Weinstein, and the case involving Donald Trump’s former attorney, Michael Cohen.

Hellerstein also presided over the trial of former Venezuelan General Hugo Armando “El Pollo” Carvajal, who was accused of drug trafficking. The testimony of this former congressman and former head of the Chavista regime’s intelligence services — who has decided to cooperate with the authorities — will play an important role in Maduro’s trial.

The 92-year-old judge had a long career. He was appointed by Bill Clinton in 1998 and served in the Southern District of New York for nearly 30 years. He was one of the court’s most senior judges and had one of the longest tenures, second only to Judge I. Leo Glasser, who is 101 years old.

Born in New York in 1933, he studied law at Columbia University. He served as a lawyer in the U.S. army and practiced law in the private sector until, at age 65, he was appointed by Clinton to the federal circuit court. He actually began his career as a law clerk in the court he later presided over.

Throughout his career, he issued well-reasoned rulings and was highly regarded in New York’s legal community for his deep understanding of the law and the admired style of his opinions.

Some highlighted his courage and impartiality. They recalled a case in which the CIA was accused of destroying evidence of torture of prisoners in U.S. custody in Iraq. Hellerstein took on the federal government, ordering it to release the photographs confirming the abuse.

Hellerstein was highly respected in legal circles. Despite his advanced age, he stayed in good shape. He exercised twice a week and enjoyed attending classical music concerts. He was known for his good nature and independent outlook. The New York Times described him as a practicing Orthodox Jew from the Bronx who scheduled sentencing hearings on Fridays so he could reflect on his decisions during the Sabbath.

A few months ago, when the Maduro case was assigned to his court, there was some debate about whether he was fit to hear it given his advanced age. Lawyers had noticed him looking tired — and even dozing off — during some proceedings, but his experience and knowledge helped dispel those doubts.

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