without any vote being undertaken – had later been challenged as unconstitutional by her predecessor in that office, Judge Silver, resulting in a constitutional crisis. By making this second reform Volt ensured that future chief judges should not have their authority doubted, while at the same time his first reform made the chief judge accountable in the exercise of that authority. Thirdly, the deputy chief judge is no longer guaranteed the automatic right of succession to the top job. Under the new system, the deputy only becomes acting chief judge in the event of a vacancy in the highest office, and only becomes chief judge in their own right if subsequently elected. This procedure was first invoked when Volt himself died and Deputy Chief Judge Hershey became acting chief judge in 2121, winning the second election to chief judge in 2122. Even this rule only applies to a deputy chief judge who was appointed by an elected chief judge. A deputy chief judge appointed by an unelected chief judge does not become acting chief judge; instead, there must be an election. Removal from office Until 2117 the only way in which a chief judge could lawfully be removed from office against his will was by a vote of the Council of Five. This never happened, and it became impossible when Chief Judge McGruder suspended the Council. Since the constitutional reforms, it has also been possible for a candidate to run against a serving chief judge if one-third of the city's senior judges sign a petition calling for a recall election. By 2131 the number of senior judges had tripled to around 1,200. In that year, senior judges began a successful campaign to vote reformer Chief Judge Hershey out of office, and replace her with hardliner Judge Francisco. Francisco himself was removed from office in 2132 by his corrupt deputy, Judge Sinfield, who brainwashed him with an illegal mind-altering drug to make him resign so Sinfield could take his place. However, Sinfield discovered that even the chief judge is not above the law, when his crime was discovered and he was arrested. The Council of Five reinstated Francisco. Other chief judges have ended their term of office either by death or by resignation. Solomon, McGruder, and Francisco resigned (McGruder and Francisco twice); Hershey resigned after serving a second term. Goodman, Cal and Griffin were assassinated. Volt committed suicide (but the public