{
  "id": 16975434,
  "title": "92-year-old US judge handling Maduro case dies",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/28/92-year-old-us-judge-handling-maduro-case-dies-16975434",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-28T22:44:23.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/world/2026/10/29/92-year-old-us-judge-handling-maduro-case-dies"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Alvin Hellerstein, the 92-year-old US judge presiding over the trial of former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, has passed away. The US District Court, Southern District of New York, confirmed his death. Hellerstein, one of the nation's oldest federal judges, had faced questions about his suitability to oversee what could be a lengthy trial. His extensive career included presiding over civil cases stemming from the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on New York and Washington. He famously rejected unfair plea deals and clashed with then-President Donald Trump over handling of cases. In 2015, Hellerstein ordered the release of photos depicting detainee abuse in Iraq and Afghanistan. He also presided over a trial where BNP Paribas was found responsible for aiding former Sudanese leader Omar al-Bashir, awarding $20.75 million in damages. Hellerstein represented Maduro for over a decade, culminating in his seizure by US forces in January. A graduate of Columbia University law school, Hellerstein served as a military lawyer before entering private practice. He was nominated by President Bill Clinton in 1998 to serve as a district court judge in New York.",
  "summary": "Questions had been raised about whether Alvin Hellerstein was the right justice to preside over what could be a prolonged trial for deposed Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 9,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Winnipeg Free Press",
        "title": "Alvin K. Hellerstein, a federal judge who handled Trump, Maduro and 9/11 cases, dies at 92",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/28/alvin-k-hellerstein-a-federal-judge-who-handled-trump-maduro-and-9-11",
        "published": "2026-10-28T16:55:06.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Hill",
        "title": "Judge overseeing Maduro trial dies",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/28/judge-overseeing-maduro-trial-dies",
        "published": "2026-10-28T17:16:58.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "South China Morning Post",
        "title": "92-year-old US judge handling Maduro case dies",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/28/92-year-old-us-judge-handling-maduro-case-dies",
        "published": "2026-10-28T18:08:43.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "CBS News",
        "title": "Alvin Hellerstein, judge in Maduro and Trump cases, dies at 92",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/28/alvin-hellerstein-judge-in-maduro-and-trump-cases-dies-at-92",
        "published": "2026-10-28T19:16:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Daily Post Nigeria",
        "title": "US judge handling Maduro’s drug trafficking case dies at 92",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/28/us-judge-handling-maduros-drug-trafficking-case-dies-at-92",
        "published": "2026-10-28T19:29:54.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "PBS NewsHour",
        "title": "Alvin Hellerstein, federal judge who handled cases on Trump, Maduro and 9/11, dies at 92",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/28/alvin-hellerstein-federal-judge-who-handled-cases-on-trump-maduro-and",
        "published": "2026-10-28T21:49:10.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "New Straits Times",
        "title": "92-year-old US judge handling Maduro case dies",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/28/92-year-old-us-judge-handling-maduro-case-dies-16972252",
        "published": "2026-10-28T22:51:18.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Colombia One",
        "title": "Judge Presiding Over Nicolas Maduro Case Dies; Hispanic Female Judge to Replace Him",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/28/judge-presiding-over-nicolas-maduro-case-dies-hispanic-female-judge",
        "published": "2026-10-28T23:07:28.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}