Marbury v. Madison (1801)
In 1801, after the Judiciary Act was passed by the lame duck congress, John Adams appointed many federal judges, some on the night before he was to leave office. Upon entering the Presidency, Thomas Jefferson's Secretary of State James Madison refused to deliver one of Adams' appointments to one William Marbury. Marbury then appealed to the Supreme court on the grounds that Madison had no right to withhold the appointment. The court ruled that the 1789 Judiciary Act, on which Marbury was basing his suit, was unconstitutional because it involved one government branch defining the power of another. Therefore, the court had no right to force the action of Madison. By doing so, the Federalist-controlled court affirmed its ability to declare laws and congressional acts unconstitutional while seemingly granting a victory to the Republican administration of Jefferson.
In 1801, after the Judiciary Act was passed by the lame duck congress, John Adams appointed many federal judges, some on the night before he was to leave office. Upon entering the Presidency, Thomas Jefferson's Secretary of State James Madison refused to deliver one of Adams' appointments to one William Marbury. Marbury then appealed to the Supreme court on the grounds that Madison had no right to withhold the appointment. The court ruled that the 1789 Judiciary Act, on which Marbury was basing his suit, was unconstitutional because it involved one government branch defining the power of another. Therefore, the court had no right to force the action of Madison. By doing so, the Federalist-controlled court affirmed its ability to declare laws and congressional acts unconstitutional while seemingly granting a victory to the Republican administration of Jefferson.