92-year-old US judge handling Maduro case dies

Alvin Hellerstein, the US federal judge presiding over the drug trafficking case against deposed Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro, has passed away at the age of 92, according to an official statement on Wednesday. Born in 1930, Hellerstein's extensive career included overseeing civil cases tied to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in New York and Washington.

Questions were raised about his suitability to handle what could be a lengthy trial for Maduro, given his age. After his death, the case has been reassigned to judge Analisa Torres, who was born in 1959. Hellerstein's tenure also saw conflicts with former President Donald Trump, including rejecting requests to move his hush money case to federal court and blocking the deportation of Venezuelan gang members without a court hearing.

In 2015, Hellerstein ordered the release of photos revealing detainee abuse in Iraq and Afghanistan, and presided over a trial where BNP Paribas was found liable for aiding Omar al-Bashir's regime in Sudan, awarding $20.75 million in damages. Hellerstein, a Columbia University law school graduate, had previously served as a lawyer in the US Army from 1957 to 1960 before joining private practice.

Nominated by President Bill Clinton in 1998, Hellerstein served as a district court judge for the Southern District of New York.