VENEZUELA TODAYSep 28Claudia Macero, María Corina Machado's press chief, returns to Venezuela after exileVENEZUELA TODAYSep 28Chavismo and the opposition agree on seven-jurist panel to vet new Supreme Court candidatesVENEZUELA TODAYSep 27Marches in six cities demand María Corina Machado's return and presidential electionsVENEZUELA TODAYSep 27Delcy Rodríguez frames her UN trip as an economic turn as María Corina Machado stays off the negotiating tableVENEZUELA TODAYSep 27Comando con Venezuela calls nationwide caravan demanding María Corina Machado's return and 2027 electionsVENEZUELA TODAYSep 27Government and AN2015 close second dialogue round with deal to expand digital press freedomVENEZUELA TODAYSep 26María Corina Machado denied flight permits for the third time this weekVENEZUELA TODAYSep 26Chavismo frees Operación Gedeón prisoners after second round of dialogueVENEZUELA TODAYSep 26Delcy Rodríguez promises elections at the UN with no date, avoids mentioning Maduro and Cilia FloresVENEZUELA TODAYSep 26U.S. prosecutors formally oppose Cilia Flores's bid for house arrestVENEZUELA TODAYSep 26María Corina Machado weighs a public return to Venezuela after new failed attemptsVENEZUELA TODAYSep 25U.S. prosecutors oppose house-arrest release for Cilia FloresTOCORÓN WATCHSep 23Prosecutors oppose Cilia Flores's bid for house arrest releaseTOCORÓN WATCHSep 22Judge issues protective order for handling evidence in Maduro case
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United States v. Maduro Moros et al. · S.D.N.Y. No. 1:11-cr-00205

Judge Hellerstein discloses prosecutor once clerked for him in Maduro case

ImportantFiled in court on · Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein
Published

COURT DOCUMENT Document details

Case
United States v. Maduro Moros et al. · S.D.N.Y. No. 1:11-cr-00205
Docket entry
No. 317
Filed
Document
Judge's letter disclosing prior clerkship of prosecutor
Original
Court filing (PDF, English)
Public docket
CourtListener

Summary written from the filing; the document itself is the record.

Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein filed a letter in the case against Nicolás Maduro and others, disclosing that one of the Assistant U.S. Attorneys on the case, Henry Ross, clerked for him from 2018 to 2019. The judge states that this past relationship does not affect his impartiality in presiding over the case. He asked that any concern or objection be submitted in writing to the Clerk of Court and himself by July 30, 2026.

Court
U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York (Manhattan) · case 1:11-cr-00205
Judge
Alvin K. Hellerstein · who he is
Prosecution
U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of New York (U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton)
Defense
Barry Pollack (Maduro) · Mark Donnelly (Cilia Flores)
Next date
September 30, 2026 · Defense reply on house arrest due
Where it stands
Maduro and Cilia Flores held at MDC Brooklyn since January 2026; both pleaded not guilty. Trial set for June 1, 2027. Hugo Carvajal pleaded guilty (June 2025) and awaits sentencing. Diosdado Cabello is charged but not in custody.

What it means

This letter is a required judicial disclosure about a past relationship with a prosecutor, not a ruling on the merits of the case. The judge states his own view that it does not affect his impartiality, but he is giving the parties a formal window to raise an objection if they wish.

In the document's own words

“one of the Assistant United States Attorneys working on this case, Henry Ross, clerked for me from 2018-2019.”
Page 1 — States the core fact of the disclosure.
“This does not affect my impartiality in presiding over this case.”
Page 1 — Judge's own assessment of the disclosure.
“If there is any concern or objection it should be made by letter to the Clerk of Court and I, to be received by July 30, 2026.”
Page 1 — Sets the procedural deadline for parties to respond.
This summary (PDF) The court document (PDF) Spanish translation coming soon
How the court describes it (original, English)
LETTER as to United States v. Nicolas Maduro Moros. et al -- 11 Cr. 205 (AKH) from Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein dated July 23, 2026 re: All concerned should be aware that one of the Assistant United States Attorneys working on this case, Henry Ross, clerked for me from 2018-2019. This does not affect my impartiality in presiding over this case. If there is any concern or objection it should be made by letter to the Clerk of Court and I, to be received by July 30, 2026. (bw) (Entered: 07/23/2026)

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