Federal Jurisdiction: Judge Alvin Hellerstein Dies at 92

Manhattan Federal Court Judge Alvin Hellerstein died Wednesday at age 92, ending a three-decade tenure on the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. His departure leaves a vacancy in a court that has recently handled high-stakes corporate and political litigation, including the ongoing narcotics conspiracy trial of former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.

Edward Friedland, the district executive for the SDNY, confirmed the death to the Daily News. President Bill Clinton appointed Hellerstein to the bench in 1998. He assumed senior status in 2011 but continued to preside over active caseloads, including white-collar fraud trials and civil rights disputes involving the executive branch.

SDNY Chief Judge Laura Taylor Swain stated that Hellerstein died surrounded by family. In a statement, she described him as an insightful and dedicated lawyer who served with distinction for over 25 years. She highlighted his sensitivity, fairness, and efficiency, noting that his energetic service continued until his death.

Hellerstein’s docket included the massive litigation following the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. In March 2010, he rejected a proposed settlement of approximately $575 million for first responders sickened by toxic air at Ground Zero. He found the payout fell short of what was rightfully owed, stating he would not preside over a settlement based on fear or ignorance.

In recent years, Hellerstein issued rulings that directly impacted the legal strategies of the Trump administration. He blocked three attempts by Trump’s legal team to move his criminal hush money case to federal court. In August, after numerous appeals, he reiterated that payments made to porn star Stormy Daniels bore no substantive relation to his position in federal office.

The judge also intervened in immigration enforcement. In 2020, he ordered Michael Cohen released from prison after finding the federal government violated the First Amendment by revoking his home confinement to write a book. Last year, Hellerstein prohibited the administration from deporting Venezuelan migrants in New York custody to El Salvador without notice or a hearing, criticizing the policy as inhumane.

Colleagues praised his directness and ethical guidance. Judge Nicholas Garaufis, who worked with Hellerstein in the 1980s, described him as a source of wisdom on judicial ethics. Garaufis noted that Hellerstein was always willing to listen and render advice, characterizing him as direct, candid, and understanding.

Jennifer Brown, Attorney-in-Charge of the Federal Defenders’ SDNY trial unit, said Hellerstein recognized the humanity of every defendant. She stated that he seemed particularly interested in the lives of his clients and showed real decency in the courtroom. Nicholas Biase, a spokesman for the Manhattan U.S. Attorney’s Office, said the SDNY community is grateful for the example he set.

Hellerstein’s final days on the bench involved managing the trial of Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, who appeared before him two weeks ago on new torture charges. Maduro used his plea hearing to condemn the case, prompting Hellerstein to cut him off and enter a not-guilty plea on his behalf. Court officials have assigned the case to Judge Analisa Torres. Michael Cohen, whom Hellerstein ordered released in 2020, said he hopes the judge is remembered as judicious, nonpartisan, and Solomonic.