The American judge in the Nicolas Maduro case, Alvin Hellerstein, has died at 92.

Alvin Hellerstein, the U.S. federal judge overseeing the case against former Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro, has passed away at 92. His age raised concerns about his ability to preside over the upcoming trial, set for July 1, 2027, where Maduro faces drug trafficking and torture charges. Hellerstein, born in 1933 in New York and a Columbia University graduate, served as a military lawyer before his judicial appointment in 1998 by President Bill Clinton. He previously handled significant cases, including those related to the 9/11 attacks and the CIA's treatment of detainees. Maduro and his wife have been held in a Brooklyn prison since their capture by U.S. forces.