Madison vs Marbury

Madison vs. Marbury 1803

One of the most well-known court cases is the case of Madison vs. Marbury in 1803. This case occurred during the end of John Adams presidency and the beginning of James Madison’s. Due to personal hatred between Madison and Adams, Adams felt the need to higher the “ midnight judges”; to maintain the beliefs he had since he would no longer be in office to uphold them. The thing about these 16 judges was that they were hired the night before Madison came into office at 11:45 pm. so they weren’t given documentation of their employment from Adams before he was no longer president. One of these 16judes, William Marbury stood up for the rest of the judges to fight the fact that they were offered jibs and now they were no longer given that opportunity due to personal issues between the past and present president. Marbury felt that his constitutional rights were being violated so he took Madison to the Supreme Court. This case was brought to the Supreme Court because Marbury felt his as well as the other 15 judges should not be penalized for the time they were hired. This issue took place within the 13 colonies. This case actually was taken to the Supreme Court because judge William Marbury sued Secretary of State James Madison to force him to deliver his commission as a justice of the peace. The ruling of this case from chief justice, John Marshall was that he declared that Madison should have delivered the commission to Marbury, but then held that the section of the Judiciary Act of 1789 that gave the Supreme Court the power to issue writs of mandamus exceeded the authority given to the Court under Article III of the Constitution, and was dismissed and considered void. Also from this case it confirmed the legal principle of judicial review. Judicial review is the ability of the Supreme Court to limit congressional power by declaring legislation unconstitutional. This was brought to the Supreme Court because Marbury felt he needed to voice his that Madison’s actions were unjust and that his constitutional rights were being violated. The Supreme Court ruling was that in a unanimous decision, written by Justice Marshall, the Court stated that Marbury, indeed, had a right to his commission. Also this led to the idea and finalizing of judicial review. Judicial review is the ability of the supreme of the Supreme Court to limit congressional power by declaring legislation unconstitutional. Each side had their own arguments. The Marbury side argued that he felt he was denied a guaranteed job due to personal rivalry between the past and current president. Also he said that he shouldn’t have to deal with the negative aspect of the argument when he wasn't involved in it. The Madison argue that he wasn't in office when the jobs were promised therefore he isn’t entitled to give the “midnight judges” their jobs. This is a landmark case because this case was the first case to ever become a Supreme Court case. Also it developed the idea of judicial review. In addition tot that this was the case that established that the supreme court tis the law of the land that the Supreme Court members and judges are the only ones able to interpret the constitution.