Knutson was reelected to his third term as Chief Justice. Knutson resigned on December 17, 1973 but continued to hear cases in retirement status for half a decade. Governor Wendell Anderson appointed Robert Sheran to fill the vacancy on December 18, 1973. Sheran was a Minneapolis attorney and former Associate Justice (1963-1970).
Daly was an attorney from Rosemount (disbarred in 1971), DFL U.S. House candidate for the 1st CD in 1962, DFL candidate for the 5th CD in 1966, and candidate for Chief Justice of the Supreme Court in 1970.