Accuser to Remain Anonymous in Cornell Fraternity Civil Trial
A judge has ruled that the woman accusing seven Cornell fraternity members of sexual assault will maintain her anonymity as 'Jane Doe' throughout the civil trial, while also issuing a warning against efforts to identify her.
A New York Supreme Court judge has ruled that the accuser in a civil trial against seven Cornell fraternity members and the university will remain anonymous as 'Jane Doe' throughout the proceedings. The ruling, granted without opposition from the defense, aims to protect the accuser's identity as the case progresses.
Judge Phaedra Perry-Bond stated that while the accuser will remain anonymous, there could be exceptions requiring her identity to be disclosed privately during the discovery phase. The judge also issued a stern warning to individuals who she said are attempting to uncover 'Jane Doe's' identity, emphasizing that such actions will not be tolerated during the trial.
In addition to protecting the accuser, the judge indicated that similar protections could be extended to the seven student defendants if their attorneys file a motion requesting them.
The lawsuit, filed last month, alleges that the seven men sexually assaulted and exploited the then-20-year-old sophomore on October 19, 2024, at the Chi Phi fraternity house. The accuser claims she was drugged with ketamine and alcohol and then subjected to sexual acts without consent while incapacitated. The suit also alleges that Snapchat messages describing her as sexually available circulated among fraternity members without her knowledge.
All seven defendants have denied the allegations, asserting that their interactions were consensual or that they were not involved in the alleged assault.
The accuser reported the incident to Cornell University police in November 2024, three weeks after the alleged assault. Campus police investigated and forwarded their findings to the district attorney's office, which ultimately decided not to pursue criminal charges. Separately, Cornell conducted a Title IX investigation into the matter.
Following the allegations, the Chi Phi chapter at Cornell was shut down, and the university confirmed that some students were expelled while others were suspended. In response to the case, Cornell has 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 the university's campus police department. In this instance, their initial findings were presented to the Tompkins County district attorney, who declined to prosecute. New York Governor Kathy Hochul later removed the district attorney from the case due to public outcry. The investigation is now being handled by New York Attorney General Letitia James, and Cornell has retained former Deputy U.S. Attorney General Sally Yates to conduct an independent review of the university's response to the incident.