voelker's business slowed after the peterson trial, and by 1953 he closed his office and worked from home. in 1954, he ran for the united states congress. in 1956, he was interviewed as a possible candidate to fill a vacancy on the michigan supreme court. at the time, governor g. mennen williams thought it was appropriate to revive a tradition of having a justice from the upper peninsula on the court. when asked why he wanted to serve, voelker replied, "because i have spent my life on fiction and fishing, and i need the money." he was appointed the 74th justice of the michigan supreme court by williams to fill emerson r. boyles's vacant seat on the court in december 1956, and voelker was confirmed in an election in 1957 to fill out the remainder of boyles' term. he was then reelected to a full term in 1958.