Following the arrest of Nicolás Maduro on Saturday, veteran U.S. federal judge Alvin Hellerstein — a 92-year-old senior jurist with decades of experience — has been appointed to oversee the criminal proceedings against the former Venezuelan dictator.

The trial will take place in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, one of the most respected and powerful federal courts in America. This court routinely handles major national-security, terrorism, and international criminal cases — underscoring the seriousness with which the United States is treating the Maduro case.

Judge Hellerstein is one of the longest-serving active federal judges in the nation. Appointed in 1998, he assumed senior-status in 2011 but has continued hearing major cases well into his tenth decade on the bench.

Throughout his career, he has presided over some of the most sensitive national-security and terrorism-related matters in modern U.S. history, including cases connected to the 9/11 attacks. His track record shows a judge who demands order, fairness, and respect for the rule of law.

According to the federal indictment, Maduro faces extremely serious charges, including narcotics trafficking, corruption tied to state power, and terrorism-related crimes — offenses that undermined regional security and contributed to widespread suffering among the Venezuelan people.

The case has drawn global attention, especially given Maduro’s longtime alliance with the Iranian regime and his history of hostile, anti-Western rhetoric.

Judge Hellerstein is widely regarded as disciplined, sharp-minded, and fair. Attorneys who have appeared before him describe a no-nonsense jurist who follows the Constitution and keeps politics out of the courtroom. Over the years, he has issued rulings both supporting and opposing actions taken during the Trump administration — demonstrating independence and commitment to the law rather than ideology.

Throughout his distinguished judicial career, Judge Hellerstein has made clear that personal identity has no place in judicial decision-making. What matters, he has emphasized, is the equal application of justice under the United States Constitution.

This trial marks a major step in holding Nicolás Maduro accountable — and reinforces President Trump’s message that corrupt dictators who threaten U.S. security and destabilize our hemisphere will finally face justice.