Ailing Chief Justice in No Rush to Go (Rehnquist staying through June?)

[truthpusher]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6839551/site/newsweek/

Ailing Chief Justice in No Rush to Go

For months, Washington has buzzed with rumors of William Rehnquist’s retirement from the Supreme Court. But insiders think he could stay through at least June




WEB EXCLUSIVE

By Debra Rosenberg

Newsweek

Jan. 18 - Ever since Supreme Court Chief Justice William Rehnquist disclosed last fall that he was being treated for thyroid cancer, Washington has buzzed with rumors of his imminent retirement. Inaugural officials say Rehnquist is still expected to administer the oath of office to George W. Bush this Thursday. For most Americans, the swearing-in will be the first public glimpse of the ailing justice since his treatment began.

Despite a New York Post report that the chief justice appeared frail during a visit to the Capitol last week, court insiders say he has regained strength. After a wheelchair ride through the underground corridors of the Capitol, Rehnquist got up and walked the route to the inaugural platform that he’ll travel later this week. Although his voice is raspy and he hasn’t appeared on the bench—a recent statement blamed “secretions” from his radiation treatment—he has been performing other duties at the Court. “He’s walking around. He’s going to the office,” says former White House counsel C. Boyden Gray. “If they put a microphone in the right place, his voice will carry” during the inauguration, Gray says.

(snip)

Some court watchers now think that even if he decides to resign shortly, Rehnquist could stay through the end of the term this June. “If he truly is feeling better, he’s not going to be in any rush to go,” says Washington lawyer Tom Goldstein, who practices before the court. “We’re all reading medical tea leaves.”

If and when Rehnquist makes the decision to leave, the chief justice could give the White House a confidential heads-up so the president could get a jump on finding a replacement. Or he could keep the news to himself until he makes a public announcement. Staying until June would allow Rehnquist to weigh in on this spring’s juicy cases, including two dealing with public display of the Ten Commandments where he could help overturn a longstanding precedent on church-state separation.

more:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6839551/site/newsweek/

[fob]

1. I say this with all due respect to the POSITION of Chief Justice,

but what a selfish prick.

[Hand]

2. He'll be dead before June, anyway nt

[catmandu57]

3. Will he even live that long?

From everything I hear he's lucky to see one more day, I say bye bye and don't let the door hit you in the ass.

[Name removed]

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