Veteran Federal Judge Alvin Hellerstein, 92, Dies In New York
Veteran federal Judge Alvin Hellerstein, 92, died in New York, his death was confirmed Wednesday by the Southern District of New York, and he had been presiding over Nicolás Maduro's federal criminal case.[1]
Court officials did not immediately release a cause of death.[1]
Hellerstein repeatedly rejected former President Donald Trump's attempts to move a New York state hush-money criminal case into federal court, including an August 28, 2026 ruling that trial evidence did not implicate presidential immunity.[1] He also oversaw litigation tied to the Sept. 11 attacks, Abu Ghraib abuse claims, a federal case against Harvey Weinstein, and numerous financial-crime trials over more than three decades on the bench.[1]
A former federal prosecutor said Hellerstein's death is unlikely to cause major delays in the Maduro prosecution because a new judge can quickly assume control of the docket.[1]
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📌 Key Facts
- Alvin Hellerstein’s death at age 92 was confirmed by a Southern District of New York spokesperson on Wednesday, October 28, 2026.
- At the time of his death, he was presiding over the federal criminal case against former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
- Hellerstein repeatedly rejected Donald Trump’s efforts to remove his New York state hush-money criminal case to federal court, including an August 28, 2026 ruling that trial evidence did not infringe presidential immunity.
- His docket over three decades included 9/11-related suits, Abu Ghraib abuse litigation, a federal Harvey Weinstein case, and financial-crime trials.
- A former federal prosecutor said his death is unlikely to cause major delays in the Maduro case because a new judge can quickly assume control of the calendar.
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