What was the significance of the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Marbury v. Madison (1803)?
1 Answer
It established the principle of judicial review.
Explanation:
John Adams and Congress created many new judge and justice of the peace positions just as he was leaving office and appointed men to them that would enforce his own view of law. He did this to frustrate the incoming president, Thomas Jefferson.
The justices of the peace couldn't start serving until they had their appointment commissions delivered by the new Secretary of State, James Madison, but Madison chose not to deliver those papers. One of the new justices was William Marbury, who sued Madison to force him to deliver his commission.
The Supreme Court ruled that Marbury was entitled to the commission, but could not order Madison to do so because the Judicial Act of 1789 which created the positions was unconstitutional and therefore was null and void.
This established the legal precedent which the United States follows to this day, that the courts have the right and authority to review laws passed by Congress to see if they conform to the Constitution.
