MIDNIGHT JUDGES

The Election of 1800 took place in the fall, but the new President, Thomas Jefferson, would not officially become President until the spring of 1801.

In the spring of 1801, just before leaving office, Congress created a bunch of new judge positions and President Adams wanted to fill them with people loyal to the Federalist Party. Adams wanted to do this to frustrate Jefferson and the Democratic Republicans, because Adams was still upset about losing. These new positions were known as the "Midnight Judges."

William Marbury was supposed to become one of these new Midnight Judges. But Marbury did not receive his commission (official letter) before Jefferson took office. So Jefferson thought that Marbury's commission was void and ordered his Secretary of State, James Madison not to deliver it.

MARBURY V. MADISON

John Marshall, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, and the associate justices heard the facts of the case and then they made their decision.

They decided that even though Marbury probably should have been given his job, the Supreme Court did not have the right to force Madison to give it to him.

John Marshall, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court served on the Court for more than 30 years. He is known for establishing the Supreme Court and the Judicial Branch as a strong third branch of the US government through his rulings. This was the first of many landmark cases that he helped decide.