Report: Jameis Winston’s conduct hearing rescheduled for Dec. 1

The Florida State investigative hearing into an alleged sexual assault by quarterback Jameis Winston has been postponed until Dec. 1, according to USA Today.

The original hearing was supposed to take place on Nov. 17, but was delayed after a conference call on Wednesday.

David Cornwell, Winston’s attorney, sent a letter to the school and the accuser’s attorney on Nov. 6 asking for the postponement. Cornwell has been a staunch opponent of the pace at which Florida State has tried to proceed with this hearing, which prompted the request for delay.

“We know now — the school has acknowledged — that … this woman waited 20 months to make a claim after being asked repeatedly by the school to come forward,” Cornwell told ESPN’s Outside the Lines last month. “I don’t see what the sense of urgency is now. Mr. Winston should have ample time to marshal a defense to what has proven to be false charges.”

The delay in the hearing also means that Winston could escape any punishment that would be handed down if found guilty of any student conduct code violations.

According to FSU’s conduct code, a decision letter will be given to the student within 10 class days of the conclusion of the hearing. The last day for fall semester final exams is Dec. 12 and the spring semester begins on Jan. 7. So if the hearing drags on for a week or longer, a decision might not come until well into January, after the college football season has concluded and likely after Winston has left school to prepare for the NFL draft.

If that happens, the entire process would be moot.

For more Florida State news, visit Warchant.com.

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Graham Watson is the editor of Dr. Saturday on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email her at [email protected] or follow her on Twitter! Follow @YahooDrSaturday

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