Judge Overseeing Maduro Case Dies at 92

U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein died Wednesday at 92. He was overseeing the Manhattan prosecution of former Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro.

• 1998: President Bill Clinton appointed Hellerstein to the federal bench.
• 4 counts were filed against Maduro, his wife Cilia Flores and four others.
• Charges include narco-terrorism conspiracy and cocaine importation conspiracy.
• Maduro and Flores pleaded not guilty.

Why it matters: A new judge will take over one of the most closely watched federal cases in the country.

• In May, Hellerstein blocked Alien Enemies Act deportations in his district indefinitely.
• The administration said those targeted were Tren de Aragua gang members.

How 22 sources split on this story

What’s next: The Maduro case will be randomly reassigned to another Southern District of New York judge.

• Will reassignment delay the Maduro trial schedule?
• Who will inherit Hellerstein's Alien Enemies Act case and his other active dockets?