92-year-old judge handling Maduro case ‘doesn’t give a shit what anyone thinks about him’

[Wingnut]

If was 92 I would say the same damn thing. 

Lawyers who have practiced before the Clinton appointee say he’s known to operate a bit differently.

U.S. District Court Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein, in Manhattan, Sept. 2, 2016
U.S. District Court Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein, in Manhattan, Sept. 2, 2016. | Todd Heisler/The New York Times via Redux

By Josh Gerstein and Erica Orden
01/05/2026 01:03 PM EST


The extraordinary criminal case against deposed Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro is headed before a 92-year-old judge with a stubborn streak and an often unorthodox approach to running his courtroom.

U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein, a Clinton appointee based in Manhattan, is overseeing Maduro’s arraignment Monday and is likely to preside over any trial of the ousted president.

“He tries very hard to do the right thing. [He] just has his own sense of what that is,” one former federal prosecutor said.

“He’s just old and old-school and does things his own way and doesn’t give a shit what anyone thinks about him,” said another former federal prosecutor, who — like most lawyers interviewed for this story — was granted anonymity to speak candidly about a judge they may appear before in the future.

https://www.politico.com/news/2026/01/05/venezuela-maduro-judge-hellerstein-00710894

[txradioguy]

He's very anti Trump and has the rulings recently to back that up.


The Libs demanding that Maduro be released might just get their wish.

[Kamaji]

“He tries very hard to do the right thing. [He] just has his own sense of what that is,” one former federal prosecutor said.

That is not a good omen.

[mountaineer]

“He tries very hard to do the right thing. [He] just has his own sense of what that is,” one former federal prosecutor said.

Yes, that isn't exactly a compliment. I once dealt with a judge who didn't seem to give a sh!t what anyone thought about him, but at least he always, 100% adhered to the law and proper procedure, and didn't make anything up as he went along.

[txradioguy]

Yes, that isn't exactly a compliment. I once dealt with a judge who didn't seem to give a sh!t what anyone thought about him, but at least he always, 100% adhered to the law and proper procedure, and didn't make anything up as he went along.

Yet another reason why we need to do away with lifetime appointments to the Federal bench.

[Kamaji]

Yet another reason why we need to do away with lifetime appointments to the Federal bench.

Only if one amends the Constitution. 

[Cyber Liberty]

Only if one amends the Constitution.

Judges that are inferior to the SCOTUS are creations of the Legislature.  If Congress wants to apply term limits, they should be able to, under the Constitution.