Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist spent some brief time in a Washington area hospital after coming down with a fever on Thursday.

Rehnquist's health has fueled speculation that he will retire from the U.S. Supreme Court. But he has adamantly denied the rumors.

In related Supreme Court news, the Bush administration is worried that John G. Roberts Jr., who has been nominated to replace the retiring Sandra Day O'Connor, is coming across as too much of an conservative ideologue. As an attorney in private practice, he represented diverse interest, including the state of Hawaii in its attempt to protect Native Hawaiian rights. He lost that case.

He also provided some legal advice to gay rights advocates that helped them win a Supreme Court ruling. The White House and conservatives hope this kind of work doesn't cause him to lose support among Republicans.

Get the Story:
Rehnquist Has Brief Hospital Stay (The Washington Post 8/5)
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Rehnquist Treated for Fever (The New York Times 8/5)
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In Private Practice, Roberts's Record Is Mixed (The Washington Post 8/5)
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Court Nominee Advised Group on Gay Rights (The New York Times 8/5)
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Relevant Links:
Federal Judicial Nominees, DOJ - http://www.usdoj.gov/olp/nominations.htm
NARF-NCAI Tribal Supreme Court Project - http://www.narf.org/sct/index.html

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