U.S. Chief Justice William Rehnquist (news - web sites), 80, the leader of the Supreme Court’s conservative majority, was recently diagnosed with thyroid cancer and is in the hospital after undergoing throat surgery, a court spokeswoman said on Monday.

Rehnquist, who has carved out a record as one of the most powerful and conservative jurists in U.S. history, was admitted to Bethesda Naval Hospital on Friday and underwent a tracheotomy on Saturday, spokeswoman Kathleen Arberg said.

She said in a statement that Rehnquist is expected to be on the bench when the high court reconvenes on Nov. 1 after a two-week recess.

His illness brings up the issue of a possible Supreme Court vacancy just a week before a presidential election that could determine the court’s future direction. Supreme Court justices serve for life.

In the last U.S. presidential election, the Supreme Court halted a recount in the disputed Florida race, making President Bush the winner over Democrat Al Gore.

Thyroid cancer is an easily cured form of cancer, with surgery and radioactive iodine working in most cases to clear the disease, health experts said.

Various forms of thyroid cancer affect an estimated 14,900 women and 4,600 men every year, according to the National Cancer Institute.