Top US federal judge who handled 9/11, Trump, Maduro cases dies aged 92
Also reported by PBS NewsHour, CBS News
Summary
U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein died at age 92 on October 28, 2026, after serving on Manhattan’s federal court since 1998. He handled cases involving President Donald Trump, the September 11 attacks, and Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, whose trial is scheduled for next June.Key Facts
- Hellerstein died surrounded by family, a court spokesperson said.
- President Bill Clinton appointed Hellerstein to the Manhattan federal court in 1998.
- Hellerstein was overseeing the case against Nicolás Maduro, who has pleaded not guilty to torture and drug trafficking charges.
- The court expects to assign Hellerstein’s cases randomly to other Manhattan judges.
- Hellerstein oversaw civil lawsuits arising from the September 11, 2001, attacks on the World Trade Center.
- He rejected Trump’s effort to move his New York hush money case to federal court and dismiss it based on presidential immunity.
- Hellerstein presided over the trials of Charlie Javice and Bill Hwang, who were convicted in separate fraud cases.
- Before becoming a judge, Hellerstein served in the U.S. Army’s Judge Advocate General’s Corps and practiced law for 38 years.
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