92-year-old Judge Alvin Hellerstein takes helm in high-profile Maduro prosecution

In a Manhattan federal courtroom, 92-year-old U.S. District Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein is presiding over one of the most geo-politically charged cases in recent memory: the prosecution of ousted Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro on narco-terrorism and drug trafficking charges.

Appointed by President Bill Clinton in 1998, Hellerstein has built a reputation as an old-school jurist, resistant to external pressures and known for his no-nonsense approach in high-stakes trials. Despite assuming senior status in 2011, he continues to handle major cases, including those related to the 9/11 attacks, Harvey Weinstein’s legal battles, and financial fraud schemes.

Hellerstein graduated from Columbia Law School in 1956, served in the U.S. Army’s Judge Advocate General’s Corps and spent nearly four decades in private practice at Stroock & Stroock & Lavan before joining the bench. 

Lawyers who have appeared before him describe Hellerstein as sharp-witted and unconventional, often cutting through legal jargon with direct questions. At 92, he remains one of the oldest active federal judges, yet shows no signs of slowing down, presiding over complex national security and terrorism-related matters.

Last May, Hellerstein issued an order blocking the Trump administration from deporting alleged members of the Tren de Aragua gang under the Alien Enemies Act. Nevertheless, President Trump told reporters on Air Force One late Sunday that Hellerstein is “a highly respected judge.” 

Prosecutors have the charged the former Venezuelan president and his inner circle of conspiring with Colombian rebels to flood the U.S. with cocaine, amassing billions in illicit profits while using drug proceeds to fund their regime. 

Maduro, who evaded capture for years, was dramatically seized by U.S. forces in Caracas over the weekend and was extradited to New York. The indictment, which has lingered in Hellerstein’s court for nearly six years, also involves co-defendants already prosecuted.

Monday marked Maduro’s first court appearance in Manhattan, where he and his wife, Cilia Flores, pleaded not guilty to the charges. Maduro said he was “captured” and described himself as a “prisoner of war,” before being cut off by Hellerstein. The next hearing is set for mid-March.

Legal experts anticipate a protracted legal battle, involving extensive pretrial motions with significant diplomatic ramifications. As the case unfolds, all eyes remain on the veteran judge whose career spans eras of American jurisprudence.