Up to 30 women who accused late financier Jeffery Epstein of sexual assault are expected to appear at a hearing Tuesday.
U.S. District Judge Richard Berman ordered the unusual proceeding to discuss prosecutors' effort to dismiss the indictment against Epstein in the wake of his death.
The New York City medical examiner determined Epstein died by suicide while in jail August 10. He was 66 years old.
Epstein was arrested July 6 and charged with one count of sex trafficking of minors and one count of conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking.
Prosecutors accused him of operating a sex trafficking ring in which he paid underage girls to have sex with him and paid some of them to recruit other victims.
He had pleaded not guilty and was set to face trial next year.
The judge set Tuesday's hearing after prosecutors asked that he dismiss charges against Epstein since the defendant is dead. Berman said he would give prosecutors, Epstein's lawyers and alleged victims a chance to speak.
