Archegos Judge at 90 Presides Over Jury Crash Course in Finance

The trial of Bill Hwang, a onetime wizard of Wall Street, would have to wait. US District Judge Alvin Hellerstein had news.

“I’m a great-grandfather,” Hellerstein, 90, announced from the bench, in the middle of a cross-examination by the defense.

Surprise and confusion read on the expression of every lawyer, juror and reporter in the courtroom.

“Can I show the baby?” the judge wondered. “It’s a gorgeous baby.” He turned his phone toward the crowd.

A collective Aaawww! went up. Jurors applauded. Even Hwang, the head of Archegos Capital Management now seated at the defense table, managed a smile. ...