Marbury vs Madison

Introduction

“On his last day in office? President John Adams named forty-two justices of the peace and sixteen new circuit court justices for the District of Columbia under the Organic Act. The Organic Act was an attempt by the Federalists to take control of the federal judiciary before Thomas Jefferson took office. The commissions were signed by President Adams and sealed by acting Secretary of State John Marshall (who later became Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and author of this opinion)? but they were not delivered before the expiration of Adams's term as president. Thomas Jefferson refused to honor ...