Associate Justice Gallagher was reelected to a third term. Gallagher resigned on January 8, 1963 to semi-retire from public office. (Gallagher still heard cases with retirement status until 1970). Governor Elmer Andersen appointed Robert Sheran to fill the vacancy on January 8, 1963. Sheran was an attorney from Mankato, former F.B.I. agent, former state Representative (HD 08, 1947-1951), and DFL candidate for Lieutenant Governor in 1950.
Melin was an attorney from Minneapolis making his 10th 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, 1950, 1952, 1956, 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.