Alvin Hellerstein, a senior judge of the Manhattan Federal Court in the USA, died on Wednesday at the age of 92.
Hellerstein, who was appointed as a federal judge by former US President Bill Clinton in 1998, presided over many cases that had wide repercussions on the national agenda during his nearly 30-year tenure.
Cases handled by Hellerstein are expected to be randomly distributed to other judges in Manhattan Federal Court. Among these cases, there is a lawsuit filed against Venezuela's former leader Nicolas Maduro on charges of torture and drug trafficking.
In her statement following Hellerstein's death, Manhattan Federal Court Chief Judge Laura Taylor Swain noted the experienced judge's dedication to his profession.
Swain said, "Judge Hellerstein was a jurist with strong insight and dedication to his profession. He continued his energetic and devoted service to our court until the last day of his life. We valued him greatly, and his absence will be deeply felt."
Despite his advanced age, Hellerstein was also notable for his active litigation. While most older federal judges in the United States choose to reduce their workload or retire, Hellerstein continued to handle important cases well into his 90s.
HE REJECTED TRUMP'S REQUEST
Hellerstein also took part in many cases involving US President Donald Trump.
After Trump was convicted in May 2024 of falsifying business records to conceal hush money payments, he rejected an attempt to dismiss the case on the grounds of presidential immunity by taking the case to federal court.
Hellerstein also made a remarkable decision during Trump's first term as president.
Hellerstein, who ordered the release of Trump's former personal lawyer Michael Cohen in 2020, concluded that the US Department of Justice's attempt to send Cohen back to prison from house arrest was retaliatory because of the book he wrote.
HANDED BILLION DOLLAR FRAUD CASES
Hellerstein also handled fraud cases that had a huge impact in the US financial world.
Last year, he presided over the trial of education technology entrepreneur Charlie Javice, who was convicted of defrauding JPMorgan Chase of $175 million.
In 2024, he prosecuted the case of Bill Hwang, who was convicted of fraud and market manipulation in connection with the collapse of Archegos Capital Management.
The collapse of Archegos caused banks to lose over 10 billion dollars.
Hellerstein also presided over most of the death and property damage lawsuits filed following the attacks on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001.
'I BELIEVE THAT EVERY DECISION I MAKE REFLECTS GOD'
Hellerstein, an Orthodox Jew, was among those who did not hesitate to share with the public the impact of his religious belief on his understanding of being a judge.
Hellerstein, who often emphasizes that justice should be ensured and the sentences given should be equitable, explained in a podcast he attended in 2020 that he planned the criminal hearings especially on Fridays.
Thus, he said, he had the opportunity to evaluate whether the punishments he imposed during the Sabbath, which is considered sacred in Judaism, were fair.
In his article published in a law journal in 2013, Hellerstein said, "As a judge and a Jew, I think that everything I do reflects God and affects His image."
AFTER WORKING AS A LAWYER FOR 38 YEARS, HE BECAME A JUDGE
Born in New York, Hellerstein completed his undergraduate and law education at Columbia University. While he was studying at the university, he was the editor of a law journal.
He later served in the Military Judges and Prosecutors Agency (JAG), the legal unit of the US army.
Hellerstein, who started working at the Stroock & Stroock & Lavan law firm in 1960, worked as a lawyer there for 38 years.
Appointed a federal judge in 1998, Hellerstein served until the last days of his life.
