The public broadcaster removed the article from its website within minutes of publication on Tuesday — the final day of the Supreme Court’s term — and issued an on-air correction.
Neither Justice Alito nor the Supreme Court’s Public Information Office has announced any retirement.
A spokesman for NPR called the report “inaccurate,” attributing it to a misunderstanding by veteran Supreme Court correspondent Nina Totenberg. NPR Editor-in-Chief Tommy Evans stated that previously prepared copy was erroneously published after Totenberg misheard remarks related to retirements.
Totenberg, who has covered the court for decades and previously broken legitimate retirement stories, has apologized directly to Alito. NPR’s public editor described the incident as an “honest mistake” compounded by a rush to publish, while noting it should have been caught before going live.
The erroneous story briefly appeared online and was broadcast, sparking brief online speculation before the retraction. An editor’s note now in its place reads: “Earlier today we erroneously published a story saying that Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito was retiring. He has not announced his retirement and we have retracted the story.”