Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein, who oversaw Maduro trial, dies at 92

Alvin K. Hellerstein, the federal judge in Manhattan who presided over high-profile cases involving President Trump, former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, and the 9/11 attacks, has died. He was 92. Chief Judge Laura Taylor Swain confirmed that Hellerstein passed away Wednesday morning while surrounded by his family. His funeral is set for Thursday at Riverside Memorial Chapel in Manhattan.

Hellerstein's recent work included the arraignment of Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, on torture charges added to their narco-terrorism conspiracy case. This hearing took place just two weeks before his death. Maduro, who was captured in a US military raid in Caracas in January, had previously defied Hellerstein's requests to enter a plea. During that proceeding, Hellerstein stated that a not-guilty plea would be entered on Maduro's behalf. The trial for Maduro and Flores is currently scheduled for next June.

Before his death, Hellerstein presided over Flores's bail hearing on Oct. 8. During that session, he struggled with his voice but insisted on continuing the proceedings. He told lawyers that he had a voice problem but would keep going as long as they could hear him. His successor in the case, Judge Analisa Torres, served on the Manhattan state bench before joining the federal court in 2013. She was also part of the international monitoring delegation for Venezuela's 2006 presidential election.

Hellerstein maintained an active docket for nearly three decades after President Bill Clinton appointed him to the federal bench in 1998. He moved to senior status in 2011 but continued to hear major cases. In August, he issued a ruling that rejected President Trump's attempt to move his hush money case to federal court and dismiss it based on presidential immunity. This was the third time Hellerstein denied Trump's requests to transfer the case. He noted that paying hush money to an adult film star was not covered by presidential immunity.

The judge had previously handled the matter after a Second Circuit Court of Appeals ruling indicated he had erred in his initial decision. In 2020, Hellerstein also ruled that the Justice Department acted in retaliation when it revoked Michael Cohen's home confinement. Cohen, a former lawyer for Trump, was released from prison as a result. The judge determined the government's action violated the First Amendment.

Hellerstein's legacy is deeply tied to the post-9/11 litigation. He oversaw dozens of wrongful death and injury lawsuits for two decades. He was known for meeting with victims' families in his chambers and rejecting settlement offers he considered too low. In March 2010, he rejected a proposed settlement of at least $575 million for people who fell ill from toxic ash. He stated that this case was different from typical private settlements because of its scale and impact.

His other notable rulings included the 2025 civil trial against BNP Paribas, where a jury ordered the French bank to pay nearly $21 million related to Sudanese government transactions. He also presided over the criminal trials of Charlie Javice and Bill Hwang. Javice was convicted of defrauding JPMorgan Chase of $175 million, while Hwang was convicted of securities fraud in 2024. Hellerstein was known for his strict courtroom discipline and for requiring spectators to wear masks for years after other judges had lifted the requirement.

A New York native and Columbia Law School graduate, Hellerstein served in the Army Judge Advocate General's Corps and worked as a litigator in Manhattan before his appointment. The court described him as a distinguished jurist who served the community with dedication. His work ethic and example are expected to remain a model for the court.