US Chief Justice William Rehnquist is seen in this Dec. 5, 2003 file photo taken at the Supreme Court in Washington. (Source: CRIENGLISH.com/AP)

    WASHINGTON, Sept. 3 (Xinhuanet) -- US Chief Justice William Rehnquist died of thyroid cancer Saturday evening , said the US Supreme Court.

    "The Chief Justice battled thyroid cancer since being diagnosed last October and continued to perform his duties on the court until a precipitous decline in his health the last couple of days," Supreme Court spokeswoman Kathy Arberg said in a statement.

    Rehnquist's death results in a second opening on the nine-member court after the announced retirement of Justice Sandra Day O'Connor and is set to trigger another fierce political battle between the Republicans and Democrats over the lineup of the court which makes many vital decisions concerning US society.

    Rehnquist, 80, was chosen as chief justice by President Ronald Reagan in 1986. He was widely known for his role in presiding over the former US President Bill Clinton's impeachment trial in 1999, as well as the Supreme Court's ruling over the disputed 2000presidential election. Enditem