In the spring of 1991, a thirty-year-old single mother accused William Kennedy Smith, a nephew of Senator Edward Kennedy and a scion of America's most famous political family, of raping her. The woman had met the thirty-one-year-old Smith, who was enjoying a brief vacation from medical school, at a nightclub in Palm Springs, Florida, not far from the Kennedy's multimillion-dollar estate. After the two left the club together, Smith drove the woman back to the family compound, where he allegedly raped her on the lawn. In December 1991, millions of Americans watched Smith's ten-day trial on television. The complainant tearfully delivered her testimony, describing how an innocent meeting at a nightclub had ended in sexual assault. Smith countered by explaining that the sex was consensual, and, after spending an estimated $1 million in legal fees for his defense, was acquitted of the charges.

Widespread media coverage of Smith's arrest and trial...