FULL PRODUCT VERSION :
java version "1.6.0_14"
Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 1.6.0_14-b08)
Java HotSpot(TM) Client VM (build 14.0-b16, mixed mode, sharing)


ADDITIONAL OS VERSION INFORMATION :
not important

A DESCRIPTION OF THE PROBLEM :
subject says it all (or see code :-)


REPRODUCIBILITY :
This bug can be reproduced always.

---------- BEGIN SOURCE ----------
import javax.swing.JComponent;
import javax.swing.JFrame;
import javax.swing.JScrollPane;
import javax.swing.JTable;
import javax.swing.SwingUtilities;

/**
 * JTableHeader must not react to mouseEvents if disabled.
 * Specifically: columns must not be
 * - resizable
 * - draggable
 * - sortable
 *
 * Note that the resizing cursor not showing.
 *
 * @author Jeanette Winzenburg
 */
public class TableHeaderDisabled {

    private JComponent createContent() {
        JTable table = new JTable(20, 5);
        table.setAutoCreateRowSorter(true);
        table.setEnabled(false);
        table.getTableHeader().setEnabled(false);
        JComponent content = new JScrollPane(table);
        return content;
    }
    
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        SwingUtilities.invokeLater(new Runnable() {
            public void run() {
                JFrame frame = new JFrame("");
                frame.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
                frame.add(new TableHeaderDisabled().createContent());
                frame.setLocationRelativeTo(null);
                frame.pack();
                frame.setVisible(true);
            }
        });
    }
    
}

---------- END SOURCE ----------

CUSTOMER SUBMITTED WORKAROUND :

nothing except going drastic, like subclassing JTableHeader, remove all mouseListeners on disabling and re-add again on enabling.