Marbury vs. Madison (1803)
Background and Details
On John Adams last day in office as president, he appointed forty two new justices of peace, and sixteen new court justices for the District of Columbia. However the signed commissions of these new justices were not delivered before the end of Adams term and Thomas Jefferson, now president, refused to honor them. William Marbury, one of the appointed justices of peace and a Federalist, decided to take this case to Supreme Court, hoping to get Jeffersons Secretary of State, James Madison, to deliver the comissions.
Decision
6 votes for Madison, 0 for Marbury. Marbury was granted the right to commission, however constitutionally, the Supreme Court did not have the power to make Jefferson and Madison appoint Marbury.
Precedent
The Marbury vs. Madison case established the Supreme Court's power of Judicial Review. This means the Supreme Court has the power to review actions of government and the legislative branch, and decide if those actions are constitutionally valid.
On John Adams last day in office as president, he appointed forty two new justices of peace, and sixteen new court justices for the District of Columbia. However the signed commissions of these new justices were not delivered before the end of Adams term and Thomas Jefferson, now president, refused to honor them. William Marbury, one of the appointed justices of peace and a Federalist, decided to take this case to Supreme Court, hoping to get Jeffersons Secretary of State, James Madison, to deliver the comissions.
Decision
6 votes for Madison, 0 for Marbury. Marbury was granted the right to commission, however constitutionally, the Supreme Court did not have the power to make Jefferson and Madison appoint Marbury.
Precedent
The Marbury vs. Madison case established the Supreme Court's power of Judicial Review. This means the Supreme Court has the power to review actions of government and the legislative branch, and decide if those actions are constitutionally valid.