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A federal judge on Tuesday denied a motion by University of Utah law professor Paul Cassell asking that two women — including one who alleges she was forced to be a "sex slave" as a girl — be added as parties in a victims-rights case in Florida.
However, U.S. District Judge Kenneth Marra said the women could still submit "pertinent" evidence in the case, which claims violations of the federal Crime Victims' Rights Act (CVRA) in the prosecution of Florida billionaire Jeffrey Epstein.
Cassell's clients are identified as Jane Doe 3 and Jane Doe 4 in court records.
Marra also ordered that allegations that Epstein loaned Jane Doe 3 to Prince Andrew of the British royal family and to Harvard Law School professor emeritus Alan Dershowitz for sex be removed from the court record.
The judge ruled the "lurid details" of the alleged participation in the sexual exploitation by people who are not parties to the case were unnecessary in the determination of whether the two women could join the suit. He added that Jane Doe 3 could possibly present the claims later should the petitioners "demonstrate a good faith basis for believing that such details are pertinent to a matter presented for the court's consideration."
Cassell applauded the decision.
"We are pleased by the court's ruling recognizing that Jane Doe 3 and 4 have a right to participate without the need for formal intervention," Cassell said in a written statement.
Jane Doe 3 responded to the ruling with the comment, "I'm happy to get to participate in this important case," according to Cassell.
Cassell, a former federal judge in Utah, and Florida attorney Bradley Edwards are representing four women who claim in a suit filed in West Palm Beach, Fla., that they had been child victims of sex-trafficking crimes committed by Epstein and had the right under the CVRA to confer with prosecutors and to be heard at public proceedings regarding any plea or sentence.
Instead, they allege, the government secretly negotiated an agreement that precluded any federal prosecution in the case.
Epstein pleaded guilty in state court in Florida to two counts of solicitation of prostitution involving a minor and served 13 months in prison before being released in 2009.
The women are asking to have the plea deal rescinded.
The federal government opposed adding Jane Doe 3 and Jane Doe 4 as parties, arguing their request should be denied because of their "undue delay" in seeking to join the proceedings and the "undue prejudice" that their joining would cause.
The suit was filed in 2008 by Jane Doe 1 and Jane Doe 2 on behalf of themselves and all "other similarly-situated victims." The two claim Epstein victimized them when they were minors.
In his ruling, Marra said the merits of the case will be decided based on a determination of whether the government violated the rights of Jane Doe 1, Jane Doe 2 and the other victims.
"Jane Doe 3 and Jane Doe 4 may offer relevant, admissible, and non-cumulative evidence that advances that determination, but their participation as listed parties is not necessary in that regard," he said.
Marra also ruled that a motion by Dershowitz to intervene in the suit so he could ask that the allegations against him be stricken from the court record is now moot.
The judge declined Dershowitz's request that he sanction Cassell and Edwards, saying the striking the lurid details from their submissions "is sanction enough."
Twitter: @PamelaMansonSLC