Reuters gets the scoop:

Ailing U.S. Chief Justice William Rehnquist, who has been undergoing treatment for thyroid cancer, has returned to work part-time at the Supreme Court, a spokeswoman said on Wednesday.

Spokeswoman Kathy Arberg said Rehnquist, 80, who has received radiation and chemotherapy for his cancer, first came back to the court during the week of Dec. 20. "He has been working at the court and at home," she said.

Rehnquist's illness forced him to miss the oral arguments in November and early December while he was working from home. Arberg gave no further details on Rehnquist's condition.

Rehnquist plans to swear in President Bush at his inauguration on Jan. 20, the White House and Arberg said last month. The oath of office traditionally is administered to the president by the chief justice.

I suppose it's not quite time for the ultra right to begin cracking champagne bottles in preparation for getting a new, even more conservative Chief Justice. While Rehnquist isn't the greatest Chief Justice, there's no question he'd be better than Clarence Thomas or anyone else the President might try to come up with.