Judge Alvin Hellerstein Dies
The federal judge overseeing Nicolás Maduro's case died at 92.
October 28, 2026 · Updated Oct 28, 4:49pm ET
UPIJudge Alvin Hellerstein, who presided over Nicolas Maduro case, dies
New York PostFederal judge who presided over cases of Trump, Maduro and 9/11 dies at 92
Associated PressAlvin K. Hellerstein, a federal judge who handled Trump, Maduro and 9/11 cases, dies at 92
FOX NewsFederal judge who oversaw Maduro, Trump cases dead at 92
NewsNationJudge overseeing Maduro trial dies
Washington ExaminerJudge overseeing Maduro case dies at 92
CBS NewsAlvin Hellerstein, no-nonsense judge in Maduro and Trump cases, dies at 92
The Daily WireClinton-Appointed Judge Overseeing Maduro Prosecution Dies At 92
One America News NetworkN.Y. district judge overseeing Maduro drug trafficking case dies at 92
TownhallJudge in Maduro Trial Dies – What Happens Now?
Epoch TimesJudge Who Oversaw Trump and Maduro Cases Dies at 92
RedStateJudge Alvin Hellerstein, Who Oversaw Maduro Case and Trump Legal Battles, Dies at 92
The Gateway PunditBREAKING: Clinton Judge Overseeing Case Against Nicolas Maduro Dies
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Pano rates the coverage Mostly Right.
What happened
U.S. District Judge Alvin HellersteinAlvin HellersteinAmerican judge died Wednesday at age 92 of natural causes. Nicolás Maduro
Nicolás MaduroVenezuelan politician’s case was reassigned to U.S. District Judge Analisa Torres
Analisa TorresUnited States District Judge; the court said pending cases would be randomly reassigned under standard practice. Appointed by President Bill Clinton in 1998, Hellerstein served on the Manhattan federal bench for nearly three decades. He kept hearing cases after taking senior status in 2011. At his death, he was overseeing the federal prosecution of Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores
Cilia FloresFirst Lady of Venezuela from 2013 to 2026. They were captured in Venezuela in January and face narcoterrorism, drug, weapons and torture-related charges. Chief Judge Laura Taylor Swain praised his dedicated service. Hellerstein had scheduled Maduro and Flores’ trial for June 2027.
How the left told it
Left-leaning outlets we track didn't cover this story.
How the right told it
Right-leaning outlets framed Hellerstein’s death through its legal consequences, his Trump-case role and his long judicial record. Fox News emphasized the handoff in the Maduro prosecution to another judge. Washington Examiner centered his repeated rejection of Trump’s federal-court push. The New York Post cited Laura Taylor Swain praising his handling of September 11 litigation.
