Press Release Regarding Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist

Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist was admitted to Bethesda Naval Hospital on Friday, October 22 and underwent a tracheotomy on Saturday in connection with a recent diagnosis of thyroid cancer. He is expected to be on the Bench when the Court reconvenes on Monday, November 1.

The Chief Justice was appointed to the Court as an Associate Justice in 1972 by President Nixon. He was elevated to Chief Justice by President Reagan in 1986. He turned 80 on October 1.