UPDATE: John Roberts NOT Resigning; 'RadarOnline' Retracts Claim Supreme Court Chief Justice Considering Quitting

UPDATE 4:55 AM ET -- Anatomy of a rumor. So, it turns out that the rumor of Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts's resignation was all a prank started by a Georgetown University Law Center professor, if we can believe the account posted on the Above the Law blog.

On Thursday morning, Professor Peter W. Tague started the rumor during his criminal law class, during a discussion about the validity of informants not explaining their sources.

Per ATL, a student in the class told them:

Our criminal justice professor started our 9am 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.

UPDATE 1:45 AM ET-- RadarOnline retracts story. RadarOnline has added an update saying that Chief Justice John Roberts is not resigning:

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

EARLIER: Gossip site RadarOnline is reporting that Chief Justice John Roberts is "seriously considering" stepping down from the Supreme Court "for personal reasons".

Roberts, a staunch conservative, was appointed by President Bush and has served on the court since 2005. While RadarOnline doesn't give a reason for the possible retirement, Roberts, 55, has suffered two seizures, in 2007 and 1993. Time magazine speculated in 2007 that Roberts may have epilepsy. However, the Supreme Court said after the 2007 seizure that Roberts was "fully recovered" and a neurological evaluation "revealed no cause for concern."

Sources told RadarOnline that retirement announcement could come "at any time."

A spokesperson for the Supreme Court has not yet returned a request for comment from Huffington Post.

Comments

[springsm]

12:48 PM on 04/01/2010

Darn I was so looking forward to mr anal retentive to become a rich lobbyist for the Family. The lying that he did during his hearings makes the position of supreme justice a joke. Alioto had the presence to twitch and have his wife cry during his lies.

[Timothy Knight]

06:48 AM on 03/10/2010

Resign or not, this guy really lied during his hearings. He has brought shame to his office. I never want to hear a Republican whisper a thing about activist judges. They just put in place, one of , if not the most activist judge in history!

[kelcuk]

06:30 PM on 03/05/2010

How disappointing!

[enlightened45]

04:28 PM on 03/05/2010

Anybody who didn't already realize there was some short circuitry in Roberts has to be total oblivious of the court since he arrived. Sorry, but am hoping that one of the losers, oops, majority will quit and soon....

[johnny g locker]

01:38 AM on 03/05/2010

Yea, my guns are still safe!!

[publanski]

01:27 AM on 03/05/2010

The question isn't how the rumor started, the question is how can we make this rumor come true.

[johntheredstate]

01:07 AM on 03/05/2010

You can only wish

[garymc8]

12:24 AM on 03/05/2010

I would love to see both Clintons on the court just p!$$ off the gop.

[GreenPlanet]

11:37 PM on 03/04/2010

Well I wouldn't trust Obama to pick a progressive for replacement anyway. He will get hammered by right wing and he will listen to them, like he always does. Usually it will just take one right winger in Congress like Lieberman to scare Obama into complying. And Obama will listen to what Wall Street wants too. And he will eventually choose a right wing Republican with a pinch of moderate leanings. This slight moderate leaning is what Obama will use to promote this candidate as a fair thinking and balanced person. I guarantee this and will bet anyone on this. Boy I wish Bill Clinton was able to be in the White House, I miss those times.

[publanski]

01:29 AM on 03/05/2010

You mean Bill "moderate Republican" Clinton, who caved on health care, slashed welfare, and worked hand in hand with the corporations?

[fromdnorth]

12:01 AM on 04/04/2010

I would bet you but I don't like to lose...

Don't forget to remind us...
Copy and paste the post on your word processor..
Call the file "I told you so... "

[eugenegerard]

11:07 PM on 03/04/2010

Say it ain't SO.

[seedoubleyou]

10:45 PM on 03/04/2010

So now you're reporting rumors that you KNOW are only rumors?

[johnr49]

11:08 PM on 03/04/2010

Unlike Fox News, who start rumors and pretend they're real.

[johnr49]

11:22 PM on 03/04/2010

A rumor which was previously believed to be true, as Huff Post has outlined - your point is?

[wndrwrthg]

10:39 PM on 03/04/2010

Bummer, just when I got my hopes up.

[BigHound1]

10:37 PM on 03/04/2010

Why would they tease us like that? What about Thomas? Surely, he's sick or something. He could retire and nobody would realize it for months.

[johnr49]

11:24 PM on 03/04/2010

They'd notice it only when they came to count the votes.

[BigHound1]

06:23 PM on 03/05/2010

Unfortunately that's too true!!!

[docbets]

05:06 PM on 03/10/2010

Definitely sick.

Ever notice how the Republican administration appointees are filled with venom?

I find Obama less adequate as a president than I believe we need, but it amuses me to think about Clarence Thomas' enraged response to testimony about him during his confirmation hearings. Can you imagine Obama behaving like that?

[mtrav]

10:20 PM on 03/04/2010

Oh, if it were only true. Most of us will be dead before he leaves.

[elan4444]

10:19 PM on 03/04/2010

Why get our hopes up!