US chief justice in hospital bed

Rehnquist was named to the Supreme Court by President Nixon

US Chief Justice William Rehnquist has been admitted to hospital because of a fever, the Supreme Court has said.

The 80-year-old judge, who suffers from thyroid cancer, was taken to Arlington Hospital in Virginia on Tuesday night for "observation and tests".

There has been recent speculation that Mr Rehnquist's health problems may lead him to retire, throwing open another vacancy on the US's highest court.

Sandra Day O'Connor, a centrist on the nine-member court, quit on 1 July.

Earlier this week, President George W Bush met leading US senators to discuss the process of replacing O'Connor.

The political make-up of the Supreme Court has major implications for divisive issues such as abortion, gay rights and medical research.

The court is the final arbiter of whether US laws are acceptable under the constitution.

Rehnquist health fears

It was the second time in less than four months that Mr Rehnquist was taken to hospital by ambulance.

In March, he was admitted with breathing problems.

Justice Rehnquist is a staunch conservative but also a consensus-builder on the Supreme Court and his opinions have made history.

He was one of the justices who sided with President Bush in the contested 2000 election.

And one of his most famous moments came in 1999 when President Clinton faced an impeachment trial over his relationship with Monica Lewinsky.

Chief Justice Rehnquist headed the proceedings and delivered the verdict that saved a president.