According to DOJ-released documents indexed by Epstein Exposed, Paul Cassell appears in 1 case document, and 8 email records in the Epstein files.
Former United States District Judge for the District of Utah and currently the Ronald N. Boyce Presidential Professor of Criminal Law at the University of Utah. Represented Epstein victim Courtney Wild and co-counseled with Bradley Edwards in the landmark CVRA litigation arguing that federal prosecutors violated the Crime Victims' Rights Act by secretly negotiating Epstein's 2008 non-prosecution agreement without notifying victims. Judge Kenneth Marra ruled in 2019 that prosecutors had indeed violated victims' rights.
Large reports can take 10 to 30 seconds. Your download will start automatically.
Paul Cassell is mentioned in documents or reporting related to the Epstein case. Being mentioned does not imply any wrongdoing, criminal conduct, or inappropriate behavior.
This dossier was generated by AI (Claude) from court filings, government releases, and other documentary sources in our database. It may contain errors or misattributions. Always verify claims against the linked source documents.
Background
Paul G. Cassell is a former federal judge and University of Utah law professor who became one of the most prominent attorneys representing victims of Jeffrey Epstein's alleged sex-trafficking network. He is described in court documents and media reports as a former federal judge known for his critical stance on mandatory-minimum sentences, and is referenced in academic literature for work on prosecutorial bias and police misconduct investigations. His legal career spans both the judiciary and academia, positions that lent significant credibility to the victims' legal claims he championed.
Cassell's involvement in the Epstein matter dates to at least 2007, when he began working with attorney Bradley Edwards to file lawsuits on behalf of unnamed victims under the Crime Victims' Rights Act (CVRA). Together with Edwards and fellow attorney Jack Scarola, Cassell spearheaded federal litigation arguing that the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida violated victims' rights by secretly negotiating a non-prosecution agreement with Epstein in 2007 without informing the victims. His work brought national attention to the case and contributed to the eventual unsealing of hundreds of pages of correspondence between federal prosecutors and Epstein's defense team.
Cassell also became directly involved in related defamation litigation, both as counsel for Virginia Giuffre (formerly Virginia Roberts) and as a plaintiff in a defamation case against Alan Dershowitz, who had publicly called for Cassell's disbarment. His dual roles as attorney and witness created procedural complications in multiple court proceedings.
Epstein Connection
Paul Cassell served as legal counsel for multiple Epstein victims, including Jane Doe No. 1, Jane Doe No. 2, and Virginia Giuffre (Jane Doe No. 3) in CVRA proceedings, the Giuffre v. Maxwell defamation case, and related litigation. He co-filed the landmark CVRA lawsuit against the federal government alleging that prosecutors illegally concealed a non-prosecution agreement with Epstein. He also co-filed the December 31, 2014 Joinder Motion that named Prince Andrew and Alan Dershowitz as participants in Epstein's alleged sex-trafficking scheme, generating significant media attention. Following Dershowitz's public attacks on Cassell and Edwards, they filed a defamation suit against Dershowitz, which was subsequently settled.
Key Allegations(8)
Co-filed a CVRA lawsuit on behalf of two Jane Does (ages 13 and 16 at the time of abuse) alleging that federal prosecutors secretly negotiated a non-prosecution agreement with Epstein and violated victims' rights by failing to inform them
documentedCo-filed a Joinder Motion on December 31, 2014, on behalf of Jane Doe No. 3 (Virginia Roberts/Giuffre) that named Prince Andrew and Alan Dershowitz as alleged participants in Epstein's sex-trafficking network
documentedAlleged that Dershowitz abused Virginia Roberts and 'other minors' based on evidence including flight logs, Epstein's 'black book,' and Epstein's repeated invocation of the Fifth Amendment when questioned about Dershowitz
documentedAlleged that the U.S. Attorney's Office signed a non-prosecution agreement with Epstein in September 2007 and then sent false notification letters to victims suggesting an ongoing investigation
documentedAsked the Justice Department to throw out Epstein's plea agreement and reopen the criminal investigation
documentedDershowitz alleged that Cassell and Edwards 'deliberately and willfully' filed the Joinder Motion knowing its allegations were false, and called for their disbarment
allegedCassell and Edwards were alleged by a witness to have deliberately timed the CVRA filing to generate media attention by naming Prince Andrew and Dershowitz, and to have contacted media (BBC) to promote the story
allegedLegal Status
Paul Cassell served as plaintiff's counsel in CVRA proceedings (Case 9:08-cv-80736-KAM), counsel for Virginia Giuffre in Giuffre v. Maxwell (Case 1:15-cv-07433), and was a named plaintiff in Edwards and Cassell v. Dershowitz (a defamation case that was settled). He was also deposed as a witness in the defamation litigation. Dershowitz publicly called for Cassell's disbarment, but no evidence in the documents indicates any disciplinary action was taken. His pro hac vice motions were denied without prejudice in at least one proceeding due to concerns about his potential dual role as attorney and witness.
Notable Statements(3)
“to secure this kind of arrangement, that was unheard of, frankly, if you look at these charges”
“The stakes for all crime victims are high”
“the case under the Crime Victims Rights Act, it wasn't me alone. I did it with Paul Cassell and Jay Howell. Paul Cassell is here today”
Contradictions(3)
Dershowitz asserted that Cassell and Edwards deliberately filed a false pleading and should be disbarred, claiming it was 'a simple matter to collect documents disproving allegations made by Jane Doe No. 3'
Cassell's deposition testimony states that the allegations were based on police reports, FBI reports, U.S. Attorney records, flight logs, and Epstein's 'black book,' and that Epstein repeatedly invoked the Fifth Amendment when questioned about Dershowitz, which Cassell characterized as supporting the credibility of the claims
A witness alleged that Cassell and Edwards deliberately timed their CVRA filing to generate media attention by naming Prince Andrew and Dershowitz, and contacted the BBC to promote the story
Cassell emailed ABC Nightline reporter Jacqueline Jesko on January 4, 2015, stating he represented a woman alleging sexual abuse by Prince Andrew and Alan Dershowitz, suggesting media contact occurred after the filing rather than being the sole purpose of the filing
Government (Assistant U.S. Attorney Dexter Lee) asserted that two plaintiffs represented by Cassell and Edwards were complicit in Epstein's activities and therefore not victims
Cassell and Edwards maintained these individuals were victims under the Crime Victims' Rights Act and argued that prosecutors violated their rights through the secret non-prosecution agreement
Key Relationships(7)
Bradley Edwards was Cassell's primary co-counsel throughout the Epstein litigation, including the CVRA case, Joinder Motion, letter to Buckingham Palace, and the defamation suit against Dershowitz. They appear together in 377 shared documents. [d-31047, d-23708, d-35387, d-24594]
Virginia Giuffre (formerly Virginia Roberts) was Cassell's client. He represented her as Jane Doe No. 3 in CVRA proceedings and in the Giuffre v. Maxwell defamation case. [d-23454, d-30388, d-24594]
Alan Dershowitz was an adversary. Cassell's Joinder Motion accused Dershowitz of participating in Epstein's abuse. Dershowitz called for Cassell's disbarment. Cassell and Edwards then sued Dershowitz for defamation; the case was later settled. Cassell was deposed on 10/16/2015 in that suit. [d-32232, d-31171, d-29003, d-24594]
Jeffrey Epstein was the subject of the CVRA litigation filed by Cassell and Edwards on behalf of victims, alleging Epstein committed sex trafficking of minors. [d-31047, d-35387, d-25865]
Prince Andrew was named in the Joinder Motion co-filed by Cassell. Cassell and Edwards wrote to Buckingham Palace requesting to interview Prince Andrew under oath regarding his alleged interactions with Virginia Roberts. [d-23708, d-32968, d-17205]
Jack Scarola was a fellow victims' attorney who worked alongside Cassell and Edwards in requesting the Justice Department throw out Epstein's plea agreement. [d-20842, d-24052]
Ghislaine Maxwell was the defendant in the Giuffre v. Maxwell case (15-cv-07433) where Cassell served as counsel for the plaintiff. [d-23454, d-30388, d-6270]
Timeline(13 events)
Working with Bradley Edwards, filed a lawsuit on behalf of an unnamed woman against Jeffrey Epstein, initiating CVRA proceedings (Case 9:08-cv-80736-KAM)
The non-prosecution agreement that Cassell would later challenge was signed between the U.S. Attorney's Office and Epstein's legal team
Privilege log filed in Case 9:08-cv-80736-KAM, documenting withheld materials related to the Epstein grand jury investigation
Co-filed Joinder Motion on behalf of Jane Doe No. 3 (Virginia Roberts/Giuffre) in CVRA proceedings, naming Prince Andrew and Alan Dershowitz as alleged participants in Epstein's sex-trafficking network
Sent email to journalist Paul Blake containing probing questions for Alan Dershowitz about Epstein's underage sexual abuse, including queries about personal contact with under-18 girls and visits to Epstein's West Palm Beach mansion
Emailed ABC Nightline reporter Jacqueline Jesko stating he represents a woman alleging sexual abuse by Prince Andrew and Alan Dershowitz
Pro hac vice motions for Cassell and Edwards contested by defense due to potential witness testimony and confidentiality concerns; judge denied motions without prejudice
Deposed as witness in Edwards and Cassell v. Dershowitz defamation case; testified about evidence supporting allegations against Dershowitz including flight logs, black book, and Epstein's Fifth Amendment invocations
Wrote letter with Bradley Edwards to Buckingham Palace requesting to interview Prince Andrew under oath regarding interactions with Virginia Roberts
Certificate of Service confirms electronic service of Defendant's Response on Cassell and other attorneys in Giuffre v. Maxwell
Miami U.S. Attorney's Office recused itself from the Epstein victims' rights case that Cassell and Edwards had pursued; case reassigned to Atlanta U.S. Attorney Byung J. Pak
Present at Jeffrey Epstein's hearing before Judge Berman in SDNY; co-counsel Edwards referenced Cassell's participation in the original CVRA case alongside Jay Howell
Defamation case (Edwards and Cassell v. Dershowitz) settled; terms undisclosed
At a Glance
Click values for sourcesSources
1 source for document mentions
The transcript captures a court hearing where attorneys argue over pro hac vice motions for Paul Cas...
“The transcript captures a court hearing where attorneys argue over pro hac vice motions for Paul Cas”
Activity Timeline
External Cross-Check
Search ICIJ Offshore Leaks, OFAC Sanctions, SEC EDGAR, and Federal Courts
Document Mentions
Email Mentions (8)
Re: Jeffrey Epstein case
Thank you, Paul. I had reached out to Joan previously to be included on Jack Scarola's e-mail distribution list for the Dershowitz suit, but I wasn't
Re: Jeffrey Epstein case
Hi Donna, I am passing this information along to Joan, who will add this information into our contacts list. Thanks for your interest in this importa
Jeffrey Epstein case
Hi Brad and Paul -- I had reached out to you both the other week when the allegations of Jane Doe #3 first became public. I am a freelance TV producer
RE: from Michael Bilton - latest from Daily Mail online
Hi Michael, We got the information. Thanks very much. This is a very interesting article that puts a lot of the flight log information together. ht
Re: from Michael Bilton - latest from Daily Mail online
You should have had from me a couple of zip files concerning VR's travel seen alongside Prince Andrew's engagements. Has that arrived with you? M
Re: from Michael Bilton - latest from Daily Mail online
Thanks for the note — looks like various pieces are falling together. PC
RE: questions for Dershowitz
Questions for Alan Dershowitz 1. Have you ever met a young girl, under the age of 18, in the presence of Jeffrey Epstein or on one of Jeffrey Epstein
Fwd: Herald
Miami U.S. Attorney's Office recuses itself from Jeffrey Epstein casePlay VideoDuration 3:51AG nominee Barr pledges to look into handling of Epstein
This dossier on Paul Cassell was compiled from court records, flight logs, and public documents. 100% free, ad-free, and independent.