US top judge denies plans to quit

Rehnquist was appointed to the Supreme Court in 1972

US Chief Justice William Rehnquist has announced that he has no plans to step down, after speculation that his health problems might lead him to retire.

"I want to put to rest the speculation and unfounded rumours of my imminent retirement," the chief justice said in a statement.

"I will continue to perform my duties as chief justice as long as my health permits," he added.

The judge, who has thyroid cancer, is back at work after a hospital stay.

Implications

The 80-year-old was released from Arlington Hospital in Virginia on Thursday after spending two nights there because of a fever.

He left his house for the office on Friday morning in a wheelchair.

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

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

Mr Rehnquist is a staunch conservative but also a consensus-builder on the Supreme Court.

Sandra Day O'Connor, a key swing voter on the nine-member court, announced her resignation on 1 July.