So we all had a Big Bunch of Feelings about the NYPD rape trial of the summer. And now, in a really pretty incredible move, one of the jurors has written a very serious account of what it was like to serve. Back in June, Patrick Kirkland wrote on his blog: "Over the last three months, I’ve been unable to talk about a major part of my life. No, it’s not because I didn’t know how to, or I didn’t know what to say, but because, by law, I couldn’t. As a writer, I was told specifically not to write about them. Not to document it, not to research it. Nothing. Because over the last three months, I’ve been a juror on a major criminal case in New York City." READ MORE

We'll learn more this morning but apparently the case against Dominique Strauss-Kahn is to be dropped. According to the New York Post, this is because his accuser has had... "questionable personal relationships"? (Uh, me too?) And was a "liar." According to the Times, "One law enforcement official involved in the investigation said no single problematic detail about Ms. Diallo’s background, or even all of them put together, had undermined the prosecution’s faith in its ability to present a viable case"—but that the department felt they couldn't put her forward as a viable witness. If the motion the DA's office files today resembles this patchwork of weird character/witness issues—and it should contain something more substantial than all this—then I'm not really sure what the point in having a DA is? What a mess: this freakshow was mismanaged by all parties, except apparently the people whose full-time job it was to leak things to the press. Those people should get a raise!

The rumors have it that Dominique Strauss-Kahn is getting released on his own recognizance today, from his current state of house arrest. I read last night's Times story three times ("Strauss-Kahn Case Seen as Near Collapse"), and it's one of those cases where the reporters are conveying more than they can say; it's good reporting and also a really poorly edited piece of garbage? Because it doesn't actually explain the situation that would result in Strauss-Kahn's change in bail status. Let us sort the anonymous "law enforcement" claims about the accuser from most to least serious! READ MORE

Friday May 27th—that's tomorrow!—at 5 p.m., at 100 Centre Street, Manhattan. Facebook group here.

Well, the most terrible story in the world has reached its conclusion by verdict. "The jury convicted both officers of official misconduct for entering the woman’s apartment, but found them not guilty of all other charges, including burglary and falsifying business records." So.... that's that. (Although the civil case will proceed.) READ MORE

You've pretty much perp-walked yourself down a dark alley of the theoretical if you have to include the disclaimer "I, of course, consider rape and attempted rape as crimes," Bernard Henri-Levy. Oh do you? That's great. READ MORE

In what the New York Times described as "tawdry allegations," the head of the International Monetary Fund and the possible next president of France was yanked out of first class on an Air France flight at JFK on charges that he'd raped a maid at the Sofitel in New York City. READ MORE

Lest we forget, the terrible New York City alleged cop rape case is still horrifically parading through the courtroom. To my mind it hasn't been going so well for the defense but I'm also willing to keep an open mind, I guess, sort of. Updates from the last few days: READ MORE