Judge Denies Anonymity for Sandusky Accusers

Jerry Sandusky's alleged victims won't be able to hide their identities by testifying under pseudonyms, the judge ruled today, as he set the ground rules for the trial that is to begin tomorrow. Lawyers for five of the alleged victims had requested anonymity, and though Judge John Cleland shot down the request today, he said lawyers would “cooperate when possible” to protect their personal information, NBC Philadelphia reports.

Obviously, Cleland said, most victims would prefer not to have appear in court and have their credibility questioned, "But we ask citizens to do that every day in courts across the nation." A lawyer for one of the victims said he would still testify, but that it represented a major burden. "It's almost as if he's being branded with a scarlet letter," he said. "This is something he may not ever be able to escape from—‘Oh, he's one of Jerry Sandusky's victims.’" Cleland also banned reporters from tweeting or otherwise electronically communicating within the courtroom, the AP reports. (More Jerry Sandusky stories.)