Veteran federal judge Alvin Hellerstein, whose decades on the Manhattan bench included high-profile white-collar prosecutions, complex civil litigation, and international criminal cases, has died at the age of 92.
Hellerstein’s death was confirmed on Wednesday morning by a spokesperson for the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. Earlier that day, Manhattan synagogue The Jewish Center notified its congregants of the passing of Hellerstein, who served as a longtime member and trustee of the institution.
Born and raised in New York City, Hellerstein was appointed to the federal bench in 1998 by President Bill Clinton. Over nearly three decades in service, he built a reputation for managing intricate legal battles and high-stakes criminal trials.
Among his most sensitive and sweeping assignments were the extensive civil lawsuits arising from the September 11 terrorist attacks, where he guided years of complex litigation concerning liability and recovery.
In recent years, Hellerstein’s docket featured several major financial and international criminal matters that drew intense public scrutiny. He presided over the trial of Bill Hwang, the founder of the Archegos Capital Management family office whose dramatic collapse sent shockwaves and severe losses through Wall Street.
His courtroom also handled other notable white-collar and corporate cases, including trials involving Charlie Javice and financial institution BNP Paribas.
At the time of his passing, Hellerstein was overseeing the ongoing narco-terrorism case against Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.
