At the U.S. Supreme Court, where change is usually glacial, sudden transformation came mid-decade. In 2005, Justice Sandra Day O’Connor announced her retirement and Chief Justice William Rehnquist died, setting in motion a jarring series of events.

After the nomination of White House Counsel Harriet Miers fizzled, President George W. Bush named Samuel Alito Jr. to replace O’Connor, and John Roberts Jr. replaced his mentor Rehnquist in the Court’s center seat.