Associate Justice Magney was reelected to a third term. Magney retired on January 12, 1953 as he was approaching the mandatory retirement age of 70. Governor C. Elmer Anderson appointed Roger Dell to fill the vacancy on January 12, 1953. Dell was an attorney from Fergus Falls. Dell was appointed Chief Justice of the Supreme Court on July 16, 1953 following the resignation of Chief Justice Charles Loring to retire from public office. Governor C. Elmer Anderson appointed Martin Nelson to fill the vacancy on July 16, 1953. Nelson was an attorney from Austin, GOP nominee for Governor in 1934 and 1936, candidate for Governor in 1938 and 1942, candidate for U.S. Senate in 1940, Progressive nominee for U.S. Senate in 1942, and sitting Tenth Judicial District Judge.
Melin was an attorney from Minneapolis making his sixth of 12 bids for the Court. Melin was also a candidate for Associate Justice of the Supreme Court in 1942, 1944, and 1946, nominee for Associate Justice of the Supreme Court in 1948, 1952, 1956, 1958, and 1962, nominee for Chief Justice of the Supreme Court in 1954, and candidate for Chief Justice of the Supreme Court in 1934 and 1960.