Attorney: Jameis Winston’s FSU conduct hearing set for week of Nov. 17

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — An attorney says Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston’s student code of conduct hearing has been scheduled for the week of Nov. 17.

John Clune, a lawyer for the woman who says Winston sexually assaulted her, confirmed the time frame Tuesday to The Associated Press.

Winston is facing a university hearing to determine whether he violated four sections of the code of conduct — two for sexual misconduct and two for endangerment. The former female student said he assaulted her in December 2012.

Though the time frame has been set, both sides can request postponements of the scheduled date for reasons that would have to be individually reviewed.

Rules specify a formal decision letter must be sent to Winston within 10 class days after the hearing ends. That time limit could be extended “if additional consideration of evidence and deliberation is required,” FSU spokeswoman Browning Brooks previously explained to the AP in an email.

Winston is expected to play Saturday when the second-ranked Seminoles host Virginia. Florida State plays at Miami on Nov. 15 and against Boston College on Nov. 22.

Baine Kerr, one of the woman’s Colorado-based lawyers, welcomed the news of the hearing.

“It’s gratifying to our client for sure,” Kerr said. “Essentially nothing’s happened for almost two years, now something may be happening.”

Brooks declined to comment on the hearing Tuesday night, citing university policy.

The adviser to Winston’s family did not immediately return phone messages Tuesday night.

However, attorney David Cornwell did comment on Twitter. The family adviser said, “FSU gives (the woman) 20 months to file a complaint and Jameis 13 days to learn 1,000 documents.”

The AP does not identify people who say they are victims of sexual abuse.

Winston could face sanctions that range from a written or verbal reprimand, to probation that could include being removed from the football team, to expulsion from the university if he found in violation of the student code of conduct.

Former Florida Supreme Court Justice Major Harding will preside over the hearing after both sides were required to strike one of three former justices selected by the university.

Winston was not arrested in relation to the sexual assault allegations, and Florida State attorney Willie Meggs declined to file charges against Winston last December, citing a lack of evidence.

Cornwell previously requested more information from the woman, including the record from the code of conduct hearing involving football players Chris Casher and Ronald Darby and “all of her prior statements regarding her sexual relationship with Mr. Winston, access to her social media accounts from 2012/2013, and her phone and text message records the night of and the days following the alleged incident.”

Clune, at the time, said Cornwell wants to turn this into “media circus.”

Florida State is currently being investigated by the Department of Education on how hit handles possible Title IX violations. The woman who said Winston assaulted her filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights, which decided the university should be investigated for possible Title IX violations over the way it responds to sexual violence complaints.

Title IX is a federal statute that bans discrimination at schools that receive federal funding. The Department of Education in 2011 warned schools of their legal responsibilities to immediately investigate allegations of sexual assault and domestic violence, even if the criminal investigation has not concluded.

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