History of Nancy Grace in Timeline
Nancy Grace is an American legal commentator and television journalist best known for hosting the HLN nightly news and current affairs show, 'Nancy Grace' (2005-2016) and Court TV's 'Closing Arguments' (1996-2007). She is known for her strong opinions and advocacy on legal issues, particularly those involving children and victims' rights. Beyond her television presence, Grace has also authored a book, 'Objection! How High-Priced Defense Attorneys, Celebrity Defendants, and a 24/7 Media Have Hijacked Our Criminal Justice System' and presided over the first season of the syndicated courtroom reality show 'Swift Justice with Nancy Grace'.
October 23, 1959: Nancy Grace Born
On October 23, 1959, Nancy Ann Grace was born. She later became an American legal commentator and television journalist.
1977: Graduation from Windsor Academy
In 1977, Nancy Grace graduated from Windsor Academy in Macon.
1979: Fiancé's murder
In 1979, Nancy Grace's college fiancé was murdered, an event that she has described as the impetus for her career as a prosecutor and victims' rights advocate.
1994: Reprimand by the Supreme Court of Georgia
In 1994, Nancy Grace was reprimanded by the Supreme Court of Georgia for withholding exculpatory evidence in an arson and murder case. The court overturned the conviction and stated that Grace's behavior disregarded due process and fairness.
1996: Joins Court TV
In 1996, Nancy Grace joined Court TV to co-host a legal commentary show with Johnnie Cochran, after leaving the Fulton County prosecutors' office.
1996: Hosting Trial Heat on Court TV
In 1996, Nancy Grace started hosting Trial Heat on Court TV alongside Johnnie Cochran, after being offered the position by Court TV founder Steven Brill.
2002: Coverage of David Westerfield Trial
In 2002, During the trial of David Westerfield for the kidnap and murder of Danielle van Dam, Nancy Grace made it clear on Larry King Live that she thought he was guilty, but she got some facts wrong.
2002: Elizabeth Smart Kidnapping Coverage
In 2002, during the Elizabeth Smart kidnapping case, Nancy Grace repeatedly proclaimed Richard Ricci guilty on Court TV and CNN's Larry King Live, even though there was little evidence to support this claim.
2004: Hosting Closing Arguments on Court TV
In 2004, Nancy Grace started hosting Closing Arguments on Court TV, after previously hosting Trial Heat.
May 21, 2005: Amy Poehler voices Nancy Grace on 'Saturday Night Live'
On May 21, 2005, Amy Poehler voiced Nancy Grace as part of the show's Saturday TV Funhouse segment in a Divertor sketch on 'Saturday Night Live'.
2005: Publication of "Objection!: How High-Priced Defense Attorneys, Celebrity Defendants, and a 24/7 Media Have Hijacked Our Criminal Justice System"
In 2005, Nancy Grace's first book, "Objection!: How High-Priced Defense Attorneys, Celebrity Defendants, and a 24/7 Media Have Hijacked Our Criminal Justice System", was published by Hyperion and became a New York Times bestseller.
2005: Show Began
In 2005, Nancy Grace's show began, and she was criticized in a New York Times article for undermining the presumption of innocence.
March 2006: New York Observer article questions details of fiancé's murder in Grace's book
In March 2006, an article in the New York Observer suggested that in her book Objection!, Nancy Grace had embellished the story of her college fiancé's 1979 murder and the ensuing trial to make it better support her image.
July 2006: Interview with Elizabeth Smart
In July 2006, Nancy Grace interviewed Elizabeth Smart and repeatedly asked her uncomfortable questions about her abduction, despite Smart's reluctance to discuss the matter.
September 2006: Interview with Melinda Duckett
In September 2006, Nancy Grace interviewed Melinda Duckett about the disappearance of her son, Trenton, questioning her aggressively. Duckett committed suicide following the interview.
November 21, 2006: Lawsuit Filed by Melinda Duckett's Estate
On November 21, 2006, The Smoking Gun reported that Melinda Duckett's estate was filing a wrongful death claim against CNN and Nancy Grace, alleging that her aggressive questioning led to Duckett's suicide.
December 5, 2006: Tommy McCoy released on parole
On December 5, 2006, Tommy McCoy, the murderer of Nancy Grace's fiancé, Griffin, was released on parole from the Georgia Department of Corrections.
2006: Coverage of Duke University Lacrosse Case
Throughout 2006, Nancy Grace took a vehemently pro-prosecution position during the Duke University lacrosse case, making controversial remarks before the players were exonerated.
March 2007: Nancy Grace responds to Keith Olbermann's claims
In response to Keith Olbermann's claims in a March 2007 Rolling Stone interview, Nancy Grace stated that she would not waste her time in a war of words with him.
April 2007: Nancy Grace marries David Linch
In April 2007, Nancy Grace married David Linch, an Atlanta investment banker, in a small private ceremony. The two had met while she was studying at Mercer University in the 1970s.
May 22, 2007: Nancy Grace appears in 'Law & Order: Special Victims Unit'
On May 22, 2007, Nancy Grace appeared in the Law & Order: Special Victims Unit episode "Screwed", the season 8 finale, playing herself opposite Star Jones.
June 19, 2007: Last Show on Court TV
On June 19, 2007, Nancy Grace hosted her final show on Court TV.
June 26, 2007: Nancy Grace announces pregnancy
On June 26, 2007, Nancy Grace announced on her HLN talk show that she was pregnant and expecting twins due in January 2008.
November 2007: Nancy Grace gives birth to twins
In November 2007, Nancy Grace gave birth to twins, Lucy Elizabeth and John David.
2007: Ending Court TV Show: Closing Arguments
In 2007, Nancy Grace concluded her time on Court TV's Closing Arguments.
January 2008: Nancy Grace's twins due
In January 2008, Nancy Grace was due to have twins, Lucy Elizabeth and John David.
2008: Coverage of the Caylee Anthony Disappearance Begins
Starting in 2008, the Caylee Anthony disappearance and the subsequent trial of her mother, Casey Anthony, became a regular feature on Nancy Grace's show.
August 11, 2009: Release of "The Eleventh Victim"
On August 11, 2009, Nancy Grace's first work of fiction, "The Eleventh Victim", was released by Hyperion. This mystery thriller became a New York Times bestseller and the foundation for the Hailey Dean Mysteries series.
August 10, 2010: Release of "Death on the D-List"
On August 10, 2010, Nancy Grace's third New York Times bestselling novel, "Death on the D-List", was published by Hyperion.
September 13, 2010: Premiere of Swift Justice with Nancy Grace
On September 13, 2010, Swift Justice with Nancy Grace premiered.
November 8, 2010: Settlement with Melinda Duckett's Estate
On November 8, 2010, Nancy Grace reached a settlement with the estate of Melinda Duckett, establishing a $200,000 trust fund dedicated to locating Trenton Duckett.
May 2011: Grace Leaves Swift Justice
In May 2011, Nancy Grace left Swift Justice because of production moving from Atlanta to Los Angeles.
July 5, 2011: Highest Ratings Ever for Nancy Grace show
On Tuesday, July 5, 2011, the Nancy Grace show on HLN had its highest ratings ever in the 8:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. hour slots, following the Casey Anthony verdict.
September 2011: Judge Jackie Glass takes over Swift Justice
In September 2011, Judge Jackie Glass took over Nancy Grace's place on Swift Justice.
September 19, 2011: Nancy Grace joins Dancing with the Stars
On September 19, 2011, Nancy Grace began her appearance as a contestant on the thirteenth season of Dancing with the Stars, partnered with pro-dancer Tristan MacManus.
November 8, 2011: Nancy Grace eliminated from Dancing with the Stars
On November 8, 2011, Nancy Grace and her partner were eliminated from Dancing with the Stars, one week shy of the semi-finals, placing 5th overall in the competition.
November 22, 2011: "Vodka Mom" Case
On November 22, 2011, Toni Annette Medrano accidentally killed her 3-week-old son, Adrian Alexander Medrano, while she was sleeping on the couch with him. While Grace was covering the case, she infamously dubbed Medrano "Vodka Mom".
2011: New York Times Article Criticism
In 2011, David Carr wrote an article in the New York Times criticizing Nancy Grace's handling of several cases and accusing her of eroding respect for basic rights.
2011: Continued Coverage of Caylee Anthony Case
In 2011, the Caylee Anthony case was still a regular feature on Nancy Grace's show and was cited as having "almost single-handedly inflated the Anthony case from a routine local murder into a national obsession".
January 4, 2012: Lawsuit against CNN settled
On January 4, 2012, a lawsuit against CNN, brought by the family of Medrano, was settled in principle. Medrano's family sued CNN after Medrano doused herself in flammable liquid and set herself on fire, later dying from her injuries on July 7. Her family felt that a segment that Nancy Grace did was cruel and contributed to her death.
April 2012: Nancy Grace appears on 'Raising Hope'
In April 2012, Nancy Grace appeared on the last two episodes of the second season of the TV show Raising Hope playing herself.
June 6, 2012: Medrano Charged with Manslaughter
On June 6, 2012, Toni Annette Medrano, whom Nancy Grace dubbed "Vodka Mom", was charged with two counts of second-degree manslaughter.
2012: Swift Justice Production Ceased
In 2012, production ceased for Swift Justice after one more season.
January 6, 2013: Nancy Grace interview on CNN's News Room
On January 6, 2013, Nancy Grace conducted an interview with Brooke Baldwin on CNN's News Room, where she expressed her disapproval of the legalization of marijuana in Colorado.
January 6, 2014: Controversial Statements on Marijuana Users
On January 6, 2014, Nancy Grace made controversial statements about recreational marijuana users, calling them "fat and lazy" during a segment on CNN.
January 2014: Igniting Controversy Over Recreational Marijuana
In January 2014, Nancy Grace ignited controversy for her negative depiction of recreational marijuana users, calling them "fat and lazy."
April 8, 2014: Nancy Grace discusses The Ultimate Warrior's death
On April 8, 2014, following WWE Hall of Famer The Ultimate Warrior's death, Nancy Grace invited Diamond Dallas Page on her show to discuss Warrior. Grace implied that rumors of steroid and drug use were swirling in the case of Ultimate Warrior's death, although an autopsy had concluded that Warrior had died of natural causes with neither drugs nor alcohol in his system at his time of death.
2014: Ellen Abbot character in "Gone Girl" based on Nancy Grace
In 2014, it became widely acknowledged that the character of Ellen Abbot in the film Gone Girl is based on Nancy Grace. Grace stated that she was "very flattered" and that she "laugh[ed] out loud at it."
October 11, 2016: Guest on The Jim Norton and Sam Roberts Show
On October 11, 2016, Nancy Grace was a guest on The Jim Norton and Sam Roberts Show, where she was accused of capitalizing on others' tragedies, leading to a tense exchange. She later called the hosts "Beavis and Butt-Head" on The View.
October 13, 2016: Last Show of Nancy Grace
On October 13, 2016, Nancy Grace hosted her last Nancy Grace show at the end of her contract.
2016: End of Nancy Grace Show on HLN
In 2016, Nancy Grace hosted her last Nancy Grace show on HLN at the end of her contract.
2016: Publication of "Murder in the Courthouse"
In 2016, Nancy Grace's novel "Murder in the Courthouse" was published by BenBella Books.
January 10, 2017: Nancy Grace launches "Crime Stories with Nancy Grace" podcast
Since January 10, 2017, Nancy Grace has hosted a daily podcast on Crime Online called "Crime Stories with Nancy Grace".
June 2017: Nancy Grace reading on "Hollywood Medium with Tyler Henry"
In June 2017, Nancy Grace sat for a reading by purported psychic medium Tyler Henry on his E! TV show, Hollywood Medium with Tyler Henry. Grace believed Henry was communicating with her dead father, as well as murdered fiancé, and said she had received closure.
April 2018: Analysis of Nancy Grace's psychic reading
In April 2018, Susan Gerbic analyzed the reading Nancy Grace had during a June 2017 episode of "Hollywood Medium with Tyler Henry", and detailed in Nancy Grace Should be Ashamed of Herself! how Grace had been fooled by cold reading and hot reading techniques.
July 13, 2019: Premiere of Injustice with Nancy Grace
On July 13, 2019, a true crime series titled Injustice with Nancy Grace, hosted by Grace, began airing on Oxygen TV channel.
July 14, 2019: Grace recognized for advocacy work
July 14, 2019 is the date of the archived version of The Retreat website on Wayback Machine. Grace has been recognized by many organizations (including, without limitation, the Carole Sund-Carrington Foundation, Crime Victims United of California and The Retreat) for her advocacy work on behalf of victims’ rights.
2023: Honorary Doctorate of Letters
In 2023, Nancy Grace was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Letters from Jacksonville State University.
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