How the Justice Roberts Resignation Rumor Started

Image of source, Above the Law

When I heard the rumor Thursday morning that Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts may be stepping down, I was intrigued. It was reported as merely a rumor, and that it might have to do with his health. In these sorts of situations, I always take the tack of Lily Tomlin's Violet Newstead in Nine to Five. "I hope it's nothing serious. Well, maybe a little serious. Some trifle that'll keep him out of the office for the next 20 years."

After all, the court is a bit right-leaning, with the swing vote usually swinging rightward. So, if President Obama had to replace Roberts, we'd very likely have a little more balance. That would be cool. But I didn't put much stock in it. It turns out that the left-wing forum I checked--Democratic Underground--had much the same cautiously but skeptically optimistic take I had. And then I checked a right-wing forum. . .holy cow, you'd think the Rapture occurred and they were left behind! Much wailing and gnashing of teeth. These people really believe--after one year of Obama--that America is teetering on the edge of a cliff, and that a "Civil War 2" is in the offing. Friggin' loons.

Anyway, it turns out to be a false story, but one with a very interesting genesis. Check it out.

[Excerpt]

Anatomy of a Rumor: The Story Behind Chief Justice John Roberts’s ‘Retirement’

Everyone is wondering: Where did that erroneous rumor of an imminent retirement by Chief Justice John Roberts come from? The gossip spread like wildfire, triggering thousands of texts, blog posts, and emails — a few hundred of them to the ATL tips line — before Radar, which first published the rumor, retracted its report. . .

Read more at: Above The Law