False Rumor: Justice Roberts Stepping Down

[Adelante]

This is from the gossip site, RadarOnline, so take it for what it's worth.

John Roberts, Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court, is seriously considering stepping down from the nation’s highest court for personal reasons, RadarOnline.com has learned exclusively.

Roberts, known for his conservative judicial philosophy, has served on the Supreme Court since 2005, having been nominated by President George W. Bush after the death of former Chief William Rehnquist.

RadarOnline.com has been told that Roberts, 55, could announce his decision at any time.

The decision paves the way for President Barack Obama to make his second appointment to the U.S. Supreme Court following his first, Sonia Sotomayor.

[TexasFilly]

Funny that Radaronline has the "scoop" ! If true, this could be the biggest news in years! Funny that it's not being reported elsewhere... or is it?

[verbalobe]

He's still got 30 years of important conservative work to do. If he did retire prematurely, look for him to go "hunting" with Dick Cheney.

[TexasFilly]

Mebbe he finally read Orly's dossies and is so ashamed of his role in swearing in the Usurper that he cannot bear to stay on SCOTUS!

[neonzx]

Orly should abandon her Ca. Sec of State campaign and start faxing her resume now .

[Adelante]

Just there, just gossip, but I thought with all the lawyers at PJ, it's at least interesting gossip.

Funny that Radaronline has the "scoop" ! If true, this could be the biggest news in years! Funny that it's not being reported elsewhere... or is it?

[Adelante]

Oh, too bad.

Update: RadarOnline.com has obtained new information that Justice Roberts will NOT resign. The justice will be staying on the bench.

[TexasFilly]

The Freeper thread on this is good lunchtime humor: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2464096/posts?q=1&;page=1

[realist]

There just had to be this comment or it would not be freepers/birthers...

To: RummyChick

Obama goons have most likely dug up dirt on him. I notice that NY Dem Gov Patterson defied the anointed ONE by insisting on running again for office and he is now deluged by ethics complaints and cries to step down.
Complicit media is aiding and abetting the thuggery.

[CJ Roberts]

From the freeper thread:

America needs CJ Roberts, now more then ever.

Didn't know I was so loved over there.

[Adelante]

Heh.

Above the Law

Here’s an account of what went down in Professor Peter Tague’s criminal law class this morning, from a 1L at Georgetown Law:

Today’s class was partially on the validity of informants not explaining their sources. started off class at around 9 am EST by telling us not to tell anyone, but that we might find it interesting that tomorrow, Roberts would be announcing his retirement for health concerns. He refused to tell anyone how he knew. Then, at around 9:30, he let everyone in on the joke.

Note the timestamps on the Radar posts. The first one came out at 6:10 a.m., i.e., the Pacific Time equivalent of 9:10 a.m. Eastern time. The retraction / update came out at 6:36 a.m., i.e., the Pacific Time equivalent of 9:36 a.m. Eastern — shortly after Professor Tague let his class in on the joke.

A second Georgetown Law student confirms this:

Our criminal justice professor started our 9 am lecture with the news that roberts will be resigning tomorow for health reasons — that he could not handle the administrative burdens of the job. He would not say how he knows — but halfway through our lecture on the credibility and reliability of informants he revealed that the Roberts rumor was made up to show how someone you ordinarily think is credible and reliable (ie a law professor) can disseminate inaccurate information.

-----
Between the hour when the class began and when he revealed that he made it up, plenty of students txted and IM’ed their friends and family…. So there’s a very good chance that the Roberts rumor that spread like wildfire on the internet was sparked by an eccentric law professor trying to make a point.

[TollandRCR]

Heh.

Above the Law

So there’s a very good chance that the Roberts rumor that spread like wildfire on the internet was sparked by an eccentric law professor trying to make a point.

Who has an opportunity to make a second excellent point when the class next meets. This is a lesson that needs to be taught to every student, not just to law students.

[neonzx]

Heh.

Above the Law

From the comments,

Posted by guest | Permalink Thursday, March 4, 2010 5:02 PM

All trouble starts with 1Ls at Georgetown.