Accuser in Cornell Sexual Assault Case to Remain Anonymous in Civil Trial
A New York Supreme Court judge has granted the accuser's motion to proceed as 'Jane Doe' throughout the civil trial, issuing a warning against attempts to uncover her identity.
A woman accusing seven Cornell fraternity members of sexual assault will maintain her anonymity as 'Jane Doe' throughout the upcoming civil trial, a judge has ruled. The decision was granted by Judge Phaedra Perry-Bond of the Supreme Court of the State of New York on Friday, with the defense offering no opposition.
Both parties have agreed to the accuser remaining anonymous while reopened investigations into the case progress. Judge Perry-Bond stated that exceptions requiring the accuser's identity to be disclosed privately during the discovery phase could arise. She also issued a stern warning to individuals who, she said, 'have made it their mission to try and identify Jane Doe' during the trial proceedings.
The judge indicated that similar protections should be extended to the defendants, and she is open to such a filing from their attorneys.
The accuser filed a lawsuit last month alleging that seven men sexually assaulted or exploited her on October 19, 2024, at the Chi Phi fraternity house. Her suit claims she was drugged, sexually assaulted, and gang-raped during a party. The seven men have denied the accusations, with some stating their interactions were consensual or that they were not involved.
According to the lawsuit, the men allegedly manipulated her into ingesting ketamine and alcohol. The accuser claims that other individuals entered the room while she was incapacitated, and that Snapchat messages describing her as sexually available circulated among fraternity members without her knowledge.
The accuser, then a 20-year-old sophomore, initially reported the alleged assault to Cornell police in November 2024, three weeks after the incident. Campus police investigated and forwarded their findings to the district attorney's office, which subsequently decided not to bring criminal charges. Concurrently, Cornell conducted a Title IX investigation.
The Chi Phi chapter at Cornell was shut down following the allegations. The university has stated that some students were expelled and others suspended. Last week, Cornell suspended all parties and social events at fraternity houses through the end of the 2026-27 academic year and implemented a new 'zero tolerance' policy that mandates immediate chapter suspension for violations.
Crimes on Cornell's campus are typically investigated by campus police, who possess full law enforcement powers but operate under the university's control. The campus police force functions independently of municipal police in Ithaca, New York. Their investigation into the 2024 allegations led to the Tompkins County district attorney declining to prosecute. Following public outcry, New York Governor Kathy Hochul removed the district attorney from the case, and the investigation is now being led by New York Attorney General Letitia James. Cornell has also retained former Deputy U.S. Attorney General Sally Yates to conduct an independent review of the university's response.