[JURIST] US Supreme Court spokeswoman Kathy Arberg has announced that Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist will not be present for the judicial session beginning this Monday, when the Supreme Court reconvenes to hear oral arguments. The session, consisting of two arguments per day, lasts Nov. 29 through Dec. 1 and Dec. 8 through Dec. 10. Rehnquist, 80 years old, was diagnosed with thyroid cancer in October, and missed arguments in the first half of November. While he nevertheless continues to vote in the Court's decisions, some parties have questioned the Chief Justice’s ability to keep up with his workload. Arberg’s announcement, made Friday, released little information on the health and treatment of Justice Rehnquist, though she did state that “He is tolerating those [outpatient] treatments well." His absence continues to be the focus of great speculation as there has not been a Supreme Court vacancy in over 10 years. The Washington Post has more.