Tocorón Watch
Judge reserves ruling after hearing arguments on motion to dismiss
According to the docket entry, Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein presided over an oral argument hearing in which the parties argued the defense's motion to dismiss the case against Nicolás Maduro and Cilia Flores. Both defendants were present with their attorneys, along with federal prosecutors and interpreters. The judge said he would reserve his decision on the motion.
- 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
The hearing confirms that the defense's motion to dismiss the charges remains pending and that the case was not resolved through it, at least for now. The judge did not indicate how or when he will rule. Maduro and Flores remain in custody while that decision is pending.
What happens next
No date has been set in the docket for a ruling on the motion to dismiss; Maduro's next scheduled hearing is set for November 17, 2026.
The document itself is not public yet. This summary comes from the court's own description; we add quotes as soon as it is released.
How the court describes it (original, English)
Our plain-language summary of a public court record, written with AI help and checked against the document. It is not a finding of guilt or legal advice. See a mistake? Tell us
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