New York judge allows Cornell rape accuser to keep anonymity

A New York judge has ruled that a former Cornell University student who sued members of the Chi Phi fraternity over rape allegations can keep using the pseudonym Jane Doe. New York Supreme Court Justice Phaedra Perry-Bond issued the order, as reported by Fox News, The New York Times, USA Today, CBS News, and ABC News. [1][2][4][5][6]

Justice Perry-Bond stated in a Friday order that the plaintiff had argued that revealing her public identity could expose her to retribution and retaliation, Fox News reported. The judge also noted arguments that public identification could hinder her social life and career, cause shame to her family, and place her family in danger. [1]

The plaintiff previously told the court that she experienced extreme anxiety and depression, according to Fox News. Fox News and ABC News both reported that the judge issued a warning against threats, noting that threats could lead to federal charges. [1][6]

The name Jane Doe is a placeholder name used in legal systems when the real identity of a person is intentionally concealed, according to legal usage details. As FTMQ News reported earlier, the plaintiff filed her civil lawsuit against fraternity brothers on September 16, 2026, alleging she was drugged and sexually assaulted at the Chi Phi fraternity house in October 2024. [7][9]