CNN’s Nancy Grace was a close friend of the murdered judge in Atlanta. She spoke to Wolf Blitzer before boarding a plane to Atlanta: “I am heartbroken,” she said. “I’ve been playing softball with Judge Barnes since 1987 since I was a rookie and the court reporter had just been up here visiting with me just the past couple of months, and I’m stunned.”

At one point, Grace almost broke down and cried: “I just hate that it had to be Judge Barnes and his beautiful court reporter that had to pay this horrible, horrible price. And, Wolf, the judge has a girl. He has a beautiful girl, and I’m just — to have your father killed in this way as a public servant. Wolf, this guy has tried so many cases. He was one of the most decent lawyers I have ever known and I’m stunned. I can hardly speak, Wolf.”