MONTICELLO – Sullivan County Court Judge James Farrell will preside over a petition brought by Gillio Lopes, one of the seven male suspects named as defendants in the Cornell University Jane Doe lawsuit.

According to published reports, the case will be heard in the Sullivan County Courthouse on October 29 at 2 p.m.

Farrell declined a request for comment.

The hearing regards a petition filed by Lopes against Governor Kathy Hochul and New York State Attorney General Letitia James on October 7 with the Albany County Clerk.

The petition seeks to remove James from serving as special prosecutor in the Cornell lawsuit.

The petition reads: “This is a special proceeding brought against New York Governor Kathleen M. Hochul pursuant to Article 78 of the Civil Practice Law and Rules, to void her appointment of New York Attorney General Letitia James to serve as Special Prosecutor in the case of Cornell male students alleged to have engaged in, or had knowledge of, the sexual assault of a female student.”

The petition says that James’ appointment is “improper” because of the alleged bias she demonstrated in a post on social media site X three days prior to her appointment as special prosecutor.

Her post read, “What this young woman has been forced to endure is horrific and unacceptable. I’m holding her in my heart and in my prayers. To her, and to all survivors: you’re not alone. We stand with you.”

The Democrat will continue to update this story.