Artemus Ward is Assistant Professor of Political Science at Northern Illinois University.

• List of Illustrations and Tables Preface 1. The Politics of Departure in the U.S. Supreme Court Departure in Comparative PerspectiveDeparture Politics in Historical ContextOverview 2. 1789–1800: Traveling Postboys Indisposition and the Early Supreme CourtDisagreeable ToursConclusion 3. 1801–1868: Crippled Courts Army of JudgesImminent Danger of Sudden DeathNeedy and Half-Paid MenAbridgement of Tenure, Facility of Removal, or Some Other ModificationIf Mr. Clay Had Been ElectedOverview 4. 1869–1896: Old Imbeciles on the Bench Dangerous in its Operation1869 Retirement ActThe Disputed Election of 1876The Evarts ActConclusion 5. 1897–1936: Old Fools and Young Spirits The Field EffectEvarts Act ReduxIncreased CaseloadsConclusion 6. 1937–1954: Senior Status A War with a Fool at the Top1937 Retirement ActUntimely DeathsConclusion 7. 1954–1970: The Limits of Power 1954 Retirement ActCantankerous FellowsAn Extraconstitutional ArrangementConclusion 8. 1971–1999: Appointed for Life He Ought to Get Off the Court TooOld and Coming ApartConclusion 9. 2000–Present: A Self-Inflicted Wound The Disputed Election of 2000That’s For Me to Know and You to Find OutConclusion 10. Conclusion: Imaginary Danger? Ability and InabilityThe Rule of 100Lightening the BurdenMandatory RetirementConclusion Appendix A Letter from Byron White to Warren Burger, Oct. 20, 1975 Appendix B Letter from Warren E. Burger, William J. Brennan, Jr., Potter Stewart, Byron R. White, Thurgood Marshall, Harry A. Blackmun, Lewis F. Powell, and William H. Rehnquist to William O. Douglas, December 22, 1975 Appendix C Letter from John Paul Stevens to William H. Rehnquist, October 28, 1988 Notes Bibliography Index

Artemus Ward is Assistant Professor of Political Science at Northern Illinois University.

• List of Illustrations and Tables Preface 1. The Politics of Departure in the U.S. Supreme Court Departure in Comparative PerspectiveDeparture Politics in Historical ContextOverview 2. 1789–1800: Traveling Postboys Indisposition and the Early Supreme CourtDisagreeable ToursConclusion 3. 1801–1868: Crippled Courts Army of JudgesImminent Danger of Sudden DeathNeedy and Half-Paid MenAbridgement of Tenure, Facility of Removal, or Some Other ModificationIf Mr. Clay Had Been ElectedOverview 4. 1869–1896: Old Imbeciles on the Bench Dangerous in its Operation1869 Retirement ActThe Disputed Election of 1876The Evarts ActConclusion 5. 1897–1936: Old Fools and Young Spirits The Field EffectEvarts Act ReduxIncreased CaseloadsConclusion 6. 1937–1954: Senior Status A War with a Fool at the Top1937 Retirement ActUntimely DeathsConclusion 7. 1954–1970: The Limits of Power 1954 Retirement ActCantankerous FellowsAn Extraconstitutional ArrangementConclusion 8. 1971–1999: Appointed for Life He Ought to Get Off the Court TooOld and Coming ApartConclusion 9. 2000–Present: A Self-Inflicted Wound The Disputed Election of 2000That’s For Me to Know and You to Find OutConclusion 10. Conclusion: Imaginary Danger? Ability and InabilityThe Rule of 100Lightening the BurdenMandatory RetirementConclusion Appendix A Letter from Byron White to Warren Burger, Oct. 20, 1975 Appendix B Letter from Warren E. Burger, William J. Brennan, Jr., Potter Stewart, Byron R. White, Thurgood Marshall, Harry A. Blackmun, Lewis F. Powell, and William H. Rehnquist to William O. Douglas, December 22, 1975 Appendix C Letter from John Paul Stevens to William H. Rehnquist, October 28, 1988 Notes Bibliography Index