Major Controversies Surrounding Nancy Grace: A Detailed Timeline
Public opinion and media debates around Nancy Grace—discover key moments of controversy.
Nancy Grace is an American legal commentator and television journalist known for her strong opinions and advocacy for victims' rights. She gained prominence hosting nightly news and current affairs shows like "Nancy Grace" on HLN (2005-2016) and "Closing Arguments" on Court TV (1996-2007). She also authored "Objection!: How High-Priced Defense Attorneys, Celebrity Defendants, and a 24/7 Media Have Hijacked Our Criminal Justice System," reflecting her views on the criminal justice system. Additionally, Grace presided over the first season of the courtroom reality show "Swift Justice with Nancy Grace."
1997: Reprimand by Supreme Court of Georgia
In 1997, Nancy Grace was reprimanded by the Supreme Court of Georgia for withholding evidence and making improper statements in an arson and murder case, leading to the overturning of the conviction. The court stated that Grace's behavior was inexcusable and demonstrated disregard for due process and fairness.
March 2006: New York Observer Article on Embellishment Claims
In March 2006, the New York Observer published an article suggesting that Nancy Grace embellished the story of her college fiancé's 1979 murder in her book Objection! to better support her image.
November 21, 2006: The Smoking Gun Exposes Pending Litigation
On November 21, 2006, The Smoking Gun exposed pending litigation on behalf of the estate of Melinda Duckett, asserting a wrongful death claim against CNN and Grace.
March 2007: Response to Keith Olbermann's Claims
In March 2007, Nancy Grace responded to Keith Olbermann's claims about her embellishing the story of her fiancé's murder, stating she would not waste her time on a war of words with him.
November 8, 2010: Settlement with Melinda Duckett Estate
On November 8, 2010, Nancy Grace reached a settlement with the estate of Melinda Duckett, creating a $200,000 trust fund dedicated to locating Trenton Duckett.
November 22, 2011: Coverage of the Toni Annette Medrano Case
On November 22, 2011, Nancy Grace covered the case of Toni Annette Medrano, who accidentally killed her 3-week-old son, and infamously dubbed her "Vodka Mom."
January 4, 2012: Settlement in Lawsuit Against CNN
On January 4, 2012, a lawsuit against CNN brought by Medrano's family was settled after Medrano's death following controversial coverage by Nancy Grace.
June 6, 2012: Medrano Charged with Manslaughter
On June 6, 2012, Toni Annette Medrano was charged with two counts of second-degree manslaughter after the death of her son in November of 2011, a case covered by Nancy Grace.
January 6, 2014: Controversial Statements on Recreational Marijuana Use
On January 6, 2014, Nancy Grace ignited controversy with negative statements about recreational marijuana users during a segment on CNN, claiming they were "fat and lazy."
January 2014: Negative Depiction of Recreational Marijuana Users
In January 2014, Nancy Grace faced criticism for her negative depiction of recreational marijuana users, including statements made on January 6, 2014, during a CNN segment.
April 8, 2014: Nancy Grace Discusses Ultimate Warrior's Death
On April 8, 2014, following the death of The Ultimate Warrior, Nancy Grace hosted Diamond Dallas Page on her show and controversially linked wrestler deaths to steroid use, despite an autopsy concluding Warrior died of natural causes without drugs or alcohol in his system.
October 11, 2016: Appearance on The Jim Norton and Sam Roberts Show
On October 11, 2016, Nancy Grace appeared as a guest on "The Jim Norton and Sam Roberts Show," where she was criticized for capitalizing on others' tragedies and her handling of past cases. She stated that she had to hold back tears during the interview.
April 2018: Susan Gerbic Analyzes Tyler Henry Reading
In April 2018, Susan Gerbic analyzed Nancy Grace's reading with Tyler Henry, detailing how Grace was seemingly fooled by cold and hot reading techniques.
