The judge was the intended victim of the deranged assassin.
Sometimes things are what they are, nothing more or nothing less.
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/blog-post/2011/01/john_m_roll_arizonia_shooting.html
....
Roll, 63, was leaving a supermarket nearby when when he spotted Ron Barber, aide to Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.), and “stopped by to say hi,” according to a spokeswoman for Giffords. A short time later, a gunman opened fire. Giffords, the apparent target, was wounded, as was Barber, her district director.
....
I read in the LA Times story (I think) that someone, at the church where he was cleaning, had mentioned the rally to him. Can’t seem to access LA Times right now but when I get back later I will look for it.
>> “Roll, 63, was leaving a supermarket nearby when when he spotted Ron Barber, aide to Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.), and “stopped by to say hi,” according to a spokeswoman for Giffords. A short time later, a gunman opened fire. Giffords, the apparent target, was wounded, as was Barber, her district director.” <<
.
That after-the-fact story is a Red Herring.