[JURIST] US Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy [LII profile; JURIST news archive] underwent a "routine" stent replacement procedure at Washington Hospital Center [hospital website] on Saturday after complaining of chest pains, spokesperson Kathy Arberg revealed in a Tuesday statement [via SCOTUSblog, DOC]. The 70-year-old Kennedy had a similar procedure performed in November, and has returned to work at the court. Although a stent [AHA profile] is used to open an artery, Kennedy showed no signs of heart damage, Arberg reported.

Kennedy has recently been a vocal proponent of international human rights [JURIST report], urging lawyers to take steps to prevent genocide from occurring in Darfur [JURIST report] and spread the rule of law worldwide. Kennedy's hospitalization comes a year after the death of former Chief Justice William Rehnquist [JURIST report], and he is now recognized as the Court's "swing vote." Reuters has more.