Burger Hospitalized; Has Mild Pneumonia
Retired Chief Justice Warren E. Burger has been hospitalized, suffering from dehydration, exhaustion and a mild touch of pneumonia, a Supreme Court spokeswoman said Monday.
Burger, 81, was admitted to Sibley Memorial Hospital on Christmas morning, spokeswoman Toni House said.
House said Burger, the 15th chief justice, expects to be released from the hospital late today or Wednesday.
“I talked to him, and he seems to be in good spirits,” House said. “He describes his illness as a rare new disease--bicentennial exhaustion.”
Burger has been chairman of the Constitutional Bicentennial Commission since retiring in 1986 as chief justice after 17 years on the high court.
Get the L.A. Times Politics newsletter
Deeply reported insights into legislation, politics and policy from Sacramento, Washington and beyond. In your inbox three times per week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
