U.S. District Judge John E. Steele, who recently ordered the release of a Cuban plane hijacker awaiting deportation, died suddenly. Steele, 77, was appointed by President Clinton.
The circumstances surrounding his death were not immediately clear. A law clerk for Chief Judge Marcia Morales Howard of the Middle District of Florida confirmed Steele's passing, and a legal source in Miami also verified the death.
Steele had drawn criticism for his July 8 ruling that released Miakel Guerra Morales from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody. Morales had hijacked a Cuban commuter plane in 2003, forcing the crew to land in Key West, Florida. He subsequently served more than 20 years in prison for aircraft piracy.
Morales had been in ICE custody awaiting deportation until Steele's ruling.