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

[RamboLiberal]

Like many a promising legal career, the Roberts resignation rumor traces its origins to a 1L class at Georgetown University Law Center….

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.

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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.

http://abovethelaw.com/2010/03/the_backstory_of_the_john_roberts_retirement_rumor.php

H'mmm - so is this really where the rumor started?

[frazzled]

1. Boy, you think law students would have texted CNN or the WaPo ...

not some teen gossip rag.

[MidwestTransplant]

4. Maybe they did but they wouldn't report it.

[aquart]

2. Were they happy or sad when they texted?

[monmouth]

3. I'm sad it isn't true...n/t

[malaise]

7. +1,000 n/t

[Jester Messiah]

8. Seriously, though.

I'd be happier to see Scalia go, though. That guy's been stinking up the bench for too long. Maybe we could all chip in and get him lifetime free eats at Five Guys or somewhere else with delicious artery-clogging goodness.

[librechik]

5. sounds believable. Instant lesson for the kids...

too bad the rumor isn't true, though.

[arcadian]

10. That guy would have had to do a lot more than just tell a class Roberts was retiring.

A lot more. He would have had to phoned a bunch of news outlets to get this going. That turmns this from accidental runmor to intentional hoax. Sounds like fraud and bad journalism. I don't think it's particularly funny or cute that this guy chose to teach a lesson in this manner. That is if the above story is correct.

[jody]

6. Another reason why class rooms should be jammed. n/t

[UTUSN]

9. K&R #10 n/t

[MineralMan]

11. Welcome to PoliSci 212!

I'm Professor James. We'll be studying presidential election in the United States this semester. There will be two short papers, a midterm exam, and a final exam. I do not allow cell phones or other handheld devices in my lectures. Any student caught using such a device will receive an F in this course. Any student whose cell phone or other device rings or makes any sounds will receive an F in this course. If this rule does not meet with your approval, see me after this class, and I will sign your withdrawal form. I do not permit withdrawals after the first day of class if the reason is to avoid an F grade for this infraction.

Now, I'd like to begin by discussing the very first Presidential election in this country...