Washington, D.C.
Chief Justice William Rehnquist, who was recently diagnosed with thyroid cancer, failed to return to work as expected this week. Rehnquist released a statement saying his plan to return to the Supreme Court after a week in the hospital had been “too optimistic.” Thyroid cancer has a high survival rate, and the cure usually involves removal of the cancerous gland. But Rehnquist revealed that he was undergoing chemotherapy and radiation, and experts said that might mean he has a rapidly progressive form of the cancer that is typically fatal. The news fueled already rampant speculation about whether the court’s balance could be shifted by one or more vacancies early in the next presidential term.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
Quiz of The Week: 15 – 21 NovemberQuiz Have you been paying attention to The Week’s news?
-
Can the UK do more on climate change?Today's Big Question Labour has shown leadership in the face of fraying international consensus, but must show the public their green mission is ‘a net benefit, not a net cost’
-
The Week Unwrapped: Will US Catholics rebel against the Pope?Podcast Plus what are the ethics of freezing your late partner?
