Chief Justice illness adds to drama

The silence invited immediate speculation that he would soon retire. The doctors treating him have not made any public statements.

But specialists not connected with his case said his course of treatment strongly suggested that he could be suffering from a rapidly progressive type of cancer and might now be inoperable. This would make it unlikely for him to complete his term.

The statement was an extraordinary development in the closing hours of a presidential campaign in which partisans have tried to remind voters that the next president could be in a position to reshape the Supreme Court.

The court has gone without a vacancy for more than 10 years and is closely divided on many important issues. A bitter Supreme Court confirmation fight could serve to reinforce the political polarisation that has characterised the presidential race.

In his statement, Chief Justice Rehnquist said he was recuperating at home and would have treatment on an outpatient basis. 8212;NYT