Jane Doe in Cornell lawsuit to remain anonymous as judge warns against threats

A judge in New York on Friday decided the former Cornell University student known as Jane Doe can pursue her sexual assault claim against the university and seven fraternity members while remaining anonymous.

Permission to proceed in litigation under a pseudonym is not automatic, but the judge said “the notoriety of the allegations and widespread reports of certain malicious actors’ behavior” warranted anonymity.

The judge’s decision came with a warning to those who have threatened Jane Doe and others connected to the case.

“While the Court is cognizant that some members of the public have made it their mission to try and identify Jane Doe, and have likewise tried to use what they believe to be Jane Doe’s identity to harass and threaten certain individuals allegedly tied to her, the Court issues the following words of caution: cyberstalking and engaging in or encouraging threats across state lines, whether it be of Jane Doe, any of the named defendants, or their attorneys, can be considered a federal crime and perpetrators of those acts may be subjecting themselves to prosecution,” Judge Phaedra Perry-Bond wrote in her opinion.

Jane Doe filed a civil lawsuit alleging she had been drugged and gang-raped at the Chi Phi fraternity house in October 2024. All seven men named in the lawsuit have denied wrongdoing and no criminal charges have been filed in the case.

Her attorney, Thomas Giuffra, has previously told ABC News that Jane Doe and her family have been subjected to threats, doxxing and other forms of harassment.

New York Attorney General Letitia James, who was appointed by Gov. Kathy Hochul, is conducting an investigation into the incident. Cornell, which said it fully supports the appointment of a special prosecutor, is also conducting an internal probe of its response to the allegations.

The case has rocked the university and started conversations about treatment of sexual assault allegations on college campuses across the country.

Cornell has said it takes allegations of allegations of sexual violence “extremely seriously” and that it “investigated and adjudicated the allegations consistent with university policies.” At the same time, the university has said it is committed to taking additional steps to improve campus safety.

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