Fact check: False claim about Chief Justice John Roberts circulates online

BrieAnna J. Frank, USA TODAY
·3 min read
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The claim: Chief Justice John Roberts was arrested

The Supreme Court will reopen its doors to the public when its new term starts next month after keeping its august courtroom mostly shut for more than two years because of COVID-19.

But some social media users have been claiming that the chief justice won’t be there to see that happen.

“INJUSTICE ROBERTS ARRESTED!” reads part of a Sept. 8 Facebook post that was shared more than 150 times in one day. “They’ll ANNOUNCE his ‘RESIGNATION’ by months end.”

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But there is no evidence any such event happened, and Roberts gave a speech at a Colorado conference after the supposed arrest. Earlier this month, the court announced that Jeffrey Minear, a top aide to Roberts, would soon retire, but Roberts has not made any similar announcements.

USA TODAY reached out to the user who shared the claim for comment.

Roberts spoke at Colorado conference after purported arrest

Neither the Supreme Court nor the FBI have issued news releases indicating any such event happened.

Roberts is still listed as chief justice on the court's website, and the high court will have an opening conference on Sept. 28 ahead of the official start of its 2022 term on Oct. 3.

He gave a speech at the 10th Circuit Bench and Bar Conference in Colorado on Sept. 9, according to USA TODAY and other news outlets.

The court in early September announced that Jeffrey Minear, who has been counselor to the chief justice since 2006, would be retiring on Sept. 30. Roberts himself has offered no indication he intends to retire or resign from his position.

More: What to know about John Roberts, chief justice of the United States

This is not the first time false claims have circulated about the chief justice. Check Your Fact in July debunked a claim that Roberts was arrested on suspicion of child trafficking and other charges.

USA TODAY has previously debunked similar claims about purported arrests of high-profile figures, including Associate Justice Amy Coney Barrett, Dr. Anthony Fauci and World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

The Supreme Court did not respond to USA TODAY’s request for comment.

Our rating: False

Based on our research, we rate FALSE the claim that Chief Justice John Roberts was arrested. There have been no announcements from the Supreme Court or law enforcement agencies that substantiate the claim, and Roberts made a public appearance after the supposed arrest. A top aide to Roberts is retiring at the end of September, but Roberts has not made any similar announcements.

Our fact-check sources:

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Fact check: False claim about Chief Justice John Roberts