A Sea of Troubles Summary and Analysis

When Roosevelt began his new term in 1937, he was looking for reform of the Supreme Court. "In the field of labor relations, the Court seemed to have created, as President Roosevelt protested, a 'no-man's land, where no Government - State or Federal' could function" (Chap. 10, p. 231). It was felt that the Wagner Act would be found unconstitutional.

The Court was said to suffer from a personnel shortage that required it to deny eighty-seven percent of its petitions. He felt that there should be an age limit at which time a justice should retire. Critics replied that inefficiency was a ruse. The real issue was that Roosevelt wanted the Court to be more responsive. The new court reform bill was killed even though a lesser bill with procedural reform measures was enacted.

By this time, vacancies...