Veteran US Judge Alvin Hellerstein oversees high-stakes case against Venezuelan Prez Nicolas Maduro
New York: At 92, US District Judge Alvin Hellerstein, one of the longest-serving judges on the federal bench, is once again at the centre of a case with global implications, as he presides over the criminal proceedings against deposed Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro.
Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, appeared before Judge Hellerstein in a Manhattan courtroom on Monday, where they entered pleas of not guilty to charges including narco-terrorism and drug trafficking. The case traces back to a 2020 indictment and forms part of a broader investigation that has unfolded over nearly 15 years, already resulting in the conviction of Venezuela’s former intelligence chief, Hugo Armando Carvajal.
Hellerstein’s involvement adds considerable weight to the proceedings. Appointed to the US District Court for the Southern District of New York in 1998 after being nominated by then president Bill Clinton, he has built a reputation for handling complex and politically sensitive cases. A Columbia University Law School graduate, he began his legal career serving in the US Army between 1957 and 1960 before moving into private practice.
ALSO READ: Shots fired near Venezuela presidential palace hours after Delcy Rodríguez sworn in
Over the decades, the judge has overseen a wide range of landmark cases. He has ruled on several civil lawsuits arising from the September 11, 2001 Al-Qaeda attacks, and has repeatedly been involved in matters touching the highest levels of US politics. At times, this brought him into direct conflict with US President Donald Trump, including when he rejected an attempt to move Trump’s New York hush money case to federal court. More recently, he blocked efforts by the Trump administration to deport alleged Venezuelan gang members without granting them court hearings.
Hellerstein has also been a key figure in major financial and corporate fraud cases. In September, he sentenced tech entrepreneur Charlie Javice to over seven years in prison for defrauding JPMorgan Chase in a $175 million deal. He later handed down an 18-year sentence to Bill Hwang, founder of investment firm Archegos Capital Management, in another high-profile fraud conviction. Last year, he presided over a jury trial that found BNP Paribas’s activities in Sudan had supported the regime of former ruler Omar al-Bashir, awarding damages of $20.75 million to Sudanese plaintiffs.
Beyond criminal and financial cases, the judge has also delivered rulings with lasting human rights implications. In 2015, he ordered the US government to release photographs documenting the abuse of detainees in Iraq and Afghanistan, a decision that drew international attention.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Bengaluru: Karnataka mulls ban social media for children below 16, says Priyank Kharge
Bengaluru: The Karnataka government is considering a ban on the use of social media for children below the age of 16, taking inspiration from steps taken by countries such as Australia and Finland, The New Indian Express reported.
Minister for Rural Development and Panchayat Raj and IT-BT, Priyank Kharge, informed the Assembly on Friday that the issue is under discussion. Responding to senior BJP leader and MLA S Suresh Kumar, who expressed concern over the abuse of social media, Kharge admitted that it is a serious issue.
Finland has taken action, the UK is considering similar steps, and Australia imposed a ban two months ago. “We too in the state have launched a digital detoxification programme for responsible use of AI and social media. The IT-BT department, in collaboration with Meta, has been running it by involving over three lakh children and one lakh teachers,” TNIE quoted him as saying.
Kharge said that in March 2025, the government launched the ‘Beyond Screens’ programme to help people dealing with digital addiction. The initiative was announced during the GAFX 2025 summit, along with the opening of a ‘Beyond Screens’ digital detox centre and the launch of an official website.
The detox centre serves as a dedicated hub for resources, counselling and intervention programmes for healthier digital habits.
During the Assembly session, Suresh Kumar also referred to the Economic Survey 2025-26, which was presented in the Lok Sabha on Thursday. The survey recommended that governments consider age-based restrictions on social media use for children.
