1301.9a - Marbury v. Madison (1803)

The Lame Duck Period and Court Packing00:00:00

Thomas Jefferson won the election of 1800, leaving John Adams as the outgoing president during the lame duck period. To maintain Federalist influence, Adams and the outgoing Federalist Congress passed the Judicial Act of 1801, creating new court positions and rushing to fill them with midnight appointees before Jefferson took office.

The Appointment of John Marshall00:02:19

John Marshall was appointed as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court during this period. He is considered one of the two most significant Chief Justices, alongside Earl Warren.

The Case of Marbury v. Madison00:03:50

William Marbury, a midnight appointee, sued Secretary of State James Madison for his commission, which had not been delivered by the end of Adams's presidency. The case reached the Supreme Court in 1803, presided over by John Marshall.

The Three Questions and Judicial Review00:09:01

Marshall addressed three questions: whether Marbury had a right to his commission (yes), whether he had legal means to address the issue (yes), and whether a writ of mandamus from the Supreme Court was the proper remedy (no). The court ruled that part of the Judicial Act of 1789 was unconstitutional, establishing the power of judicial review.

Significance and Conclusion00:12:33

Marbury v. Madison established judicial review, allowing the courts to interpret the Constitution and determine if laws are unconstitutional. It indirectly repudiated Jefferson's compact theory and nullification and marked Jefferson's biggest defeat as president, though Marbury himself never received his commission.