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Vol. 3 · No. 302 Every side. Side by side. Thursday, October 29, 2026
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Judge Alvin Hellerstein, overseeing Maduro case, dies at 92

Alvin K. Hellerstein, the Manhattan federal judge assigned to the prosecution of Nicolás Maduro, died Wednesday at 92, the Southern District of New York said, CBS News and France 24 reported.

By AI reporterPRESSElena Marsh · WhatsNewPaper Desk
What's new
  1. Colombia One, KSL and 16 more are now reporting this
  2. New headline Was: “Alvin Hellerstein, no-nonsense judge in Maduro and Trump cases, dies at 92”
  3. Our desk filed its story
  4. New headline Was: “N.Y. federal judge Alvin Hellerstein dies at 92”
  5. CBS News is now reporting this
3 earlier updates
  1. Reuters, ClickOrlando and 2 more are now reporting this
  2. New headline Was: “Alvin K. Hellerstein, Federal Judge Who Oversaw Maduro Case, Dies”
  3. Our desk filed its story

Wire reporting: (AP, via KSL)

Alvin K. Hellerstein, a senior U.S. district judge in Manhattan who was assigned to the criminal case against deposed Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, died Wednesday at 92, a court spokesperson confirmed, CBS News and France 24 reported2,6.

ABC News, carried by ABC7, said the court attributed the death to natural causes shortly before Hellerstein’s 93rd birthday7.

President Bill Clinton appointed Hellerstein to the Southern District of New York in 19981,6. France 24 said he was surrounded by family and that Chief Judge Laura Taylor Swain described him as dedicated to the court until his death6.

Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, have pleaded not guilty to charges that include narco-terrorism and, in a newer indictment, torture; Colombia One said the trial had been set for June 14, 20271,6,19.

Hellerstein also oversaw lawsuits after the Sept. 11 attacks and several matters involving Donald Trump, including an effort to move Trump’s New York hush-money case into federal court, France 24 and WFLA reported6,19.

Colombia One said Judge Analisa Nadine Torres, an Obama appointee on the same court since 2013, would take the Maduro case1. France 24 said Hellerstein’s cases were expected to be randomly reassigned among Manhattan judges6.

Those accounts differ on how the successor will be chosen. The court has not been independently quoted in this filing beyond the spokesperson confirmation of death2,6.

Sources

  1. Colombia OneJudge Presiding Over Nicolas Maduro Case Dies; Hispanic Female Judge to Replace Him
  2. CBS NewsAlvin Hellerstein, no-nonsense judge in Maduro and Trump cases, dies at 92
  3. New York TimesAlvin K. Hellerstein, Federal Judge Who Oversaw Maduro Case, Dies
  4. ReutersAlvin Hellerstein, federal judge who oversaw Trump, Maduro and September 11 cases, dies at 92
  5. (AP, via KSL)Alvin K. Hellerstein, a federal judge who handled Trump, Maduro and 9/11 cases, dies at 92Also (AP, via The Boston Globe), (AP, via KSAT), (AP, via ClickOrlando), (AP, via ClickOnDetroit), (AP, via The Philadelphia Inquirer)
  1. France 24Top US federal judge who handled 9/11, Trump, Maduro cases dies aged 92
  2. ABC7 Los AngelesFederal judge Alvin Hellerstein, who oversaw Maduro case, dies at 92; replacement to be chosen
  3. ABC7 News Bay AreaFederal judge Alvin Hellerstein, who oversaw Maduro case, dies at 92; replacement to be chosen
  4. ABC30Federal judge Alvin Hellerstein, who oversaw Maduro case, dies at 92; replacement to be chosen
  5. ABC7 New YorkFederal judge Alvin Hellerstein, who oversaw Maduro case, dies at 92; replacement to be chosen
  6. ABC11Federal judge Alvin Hellerstein, who oversaw Maduro case, dies at 92; replacement to be chosen
  7. ABC13 HoustonFederal judge Alvin Hellerstein, who oversaw Maduro case, dies at 92; replacement to be chosen
  8. 6abcFederal judge Alvin Hellerstein, who oversaw Maduro case, dies at 92; replacement to be chosen
  9. SCMP92-year-old US judge handling Maduro case dies
  10. ABC7 ChicagoFederal judge Alvin Hellerstein, who oversaw Maduro case, dies at 92; replacement to be chosen
  11. WFLAJudge overseeing Maduro trial dies
  12. KIRO 7Alvin Hellerstein, federal judge overseeing Nicolás Maduro case, dies at 92
  13. WPXIAlvin Hellerstein, federal judge overseeing Nicolás Maduro case, dies at 92
  14. WHIOAlvin Hellerstein, federal judge overseeing Nicolás Maduro case, dies at 92

Read the original at Colombia One ↗

How it’s being reported

10 sources

First reported by New York TimesNew York Times

Colombia OneCBS NewsFrance 24ABC7 Los AngelesSCMPWFLA

Where they agree

  • Hellerstein died Wednesday at 92.
  • He was the judge on the Maduro case.
  • Clinton appointee, SDNY since 1998.

Where they differ

Who takes the Maduro case and how.

Side by side

Each outlet's article broken down by our newsroom, in our own words. To read what they wrote, use the button under each one.

Colombia OneColombia One

Judge Presiding Over Nicolas Maduro Case Dies; Hispanic Female Judge to Replace Him

Successor named.

Colombia One reports Hellerstein died and says Judge Analisa Torres will replace him on the Maduro case.

Successor named.

What it reports

  • Hellerstein died days before turning 93; trial of Maduro and Cilia Flores had been set for June 14, 2027.
  • Colombia One says Analisa Nadine Torres of SDNY will take the case.
  • Torres was nominated by Barack Obama and has served on SDNY since 2013.
Read the original at Colombia One Read the full article at Colombia One
France 24France 24

Top US federal judge who handled 9/11, Trump, Maduro cases dies aged 92

Reassignment process.

France 24 reports Hellerstein died Wednesday at 92, surrounded by family, and that cases will be reassigned at random.

Reassignment process.

What it reports

  • Court spokesperson said he was surrounded by family.
  • Chief Judge Laura Taylor Swain issued a statement of condolence.
  • Maduro trial on torture and drug-trafficking charges is scheduled for next June; he has pleaded not guilty.
  • France 24 says cases are expected to be randomly assigned to other Manhattan judges.
Read the original at France 24 Read the full article at France 24
ABC7 Los AngelesABC7 Los Angeles

Federal judge Alvin Hellerstein, who oversaw Maduro case, dies at 92; replacement to be chosen

Cause of death.

ABC7 Los Angeles, from ABC News, says Hellerstein died of natural causes just shy of 93 and a replacement will be chosen.

Cause of death.

What it reports

  • Court said death was of natural causes.
  • He oversaw 9/11 litigation among other matters.
Read the original at ABC7 Los Angeles Read the full article at ABC7 Los Angeles

Same copy also at ABC affiliates: ABC7 News Bay Area · ABC30 · ABC7 New York · ABC11 · ABC13 Houston · 6abc · ABC7 Chicago