I think you've put your finger on what is the most challenging issue we face. We would welcome recommendations of other approaches.
I was neither aware of nor had a sense of anyone not applying as a result of the tightness of the application time.
The first time, as you may recall, the applications were until the end of the summer, which was very difficult because people were coming in from their summer cottages and trying to get hold of their assistants to help them put together dossiers of their cases, etc.
I think this time around it was much more mainstream, being in the middle of the work year, and people were around. I think it was a little easier to do.
At the end of the day, we're not going to be able to rule out early retirements from the court. To assist the court in its business, you want to make sure that it would start a new season fully equipped and that the person who is chosen to make this important commitment has the opportunity to organize his or her private life. I think that's where there is the possibility of creating a greater preparedness among people who would be good candidates—and that would go even to members of the committee. If there are people who you think would be excellent candidates, make them aware and get them thinking about the process.
Of course, it depends on whether there are going to be retirements, but as we've seen, we can't predict the actuarial retirements and that people sometimes retire early.
The answer to your question is that we can do it better. I am not aware that it was a major barrier, but I don't know that for sure and I would hate to think it was.