 There was animosity between the Labor government and the judges, playing out through a series of cases challenging government actions and legislation.The parliament undermined his security of tenure by passing the "Judges Retirement Act" 1921 (Qld), the effect of which was that immediately upon proclamation three out of six judges, Cooper and Justices Real and Chubb were compulsorily retired, which permitted the government to appoint new judges, including Thomas McCawley as the new Chief Justice.Cooper died on 30 August 1923.