Supreme Court History, Essay Example

Prior to Jefferson’s Presidency, the American public’s understanding of the principles of the Constitution were limited, but this changed quickly when Jefferson became President in 1801. ¹ At this time, the court was “filled with Federalist appointees, including the formidable John Marshall” as Chief Justice. To Jefferson’s dismay, the Judiciary Act of 1801 allowed more Federalist judges to be appointed to the court via Adams’ “midnight appointees.” ² As a result, Jefferson, a steadfast supporter of Republicanism, declared that the Federalists “have retired into the judiciary as a stronghold, and from that battery all of the works of Republicanism are to be beaten down and destroyed.” ³

In 1803, everything came to a head when William Marbury, one of Adams’ “midnight appointees,” demanded to be commissioned as a judge; however, James Madison as Secretary of State “refused to deliver the commission” of Marbury, despite citing the terms of the Judiciary Act of 1789. Thus, in the landmark case Marbury v. Madison, Marshall declared that Marbury “had the right to the appointment but that the court did not have the constitutional power to enforce it.” ⁴ As a result, Jefferson and his Republicans commenced to reverse many Federalists policies, including the Judiciary Act of 1801 that effectively removed a number of Adams’ “midnight appointees,” replacing them with Republicans. ⁵

By the 1820’s, the Republicans held sway in the court, and although a Federalist, Marshall did much to “reach some sort of accommodation with the other branches” of the US government ⁶ which effectively brought about interaction between the Executive, Judicial, and Legislative branches of the federal government. One of Marshall’s most important principles related to the power of the Supreme Court was judicial authority that allowed the court to “overturn state laws that infringe on the US Constitution” related to individual property rights and the creation of monopolies. In addition, Marshall was pivotal in helping to shape the American banking system via regulations enacted by the Supreme Court. ⁷

Endnotes

1. James A. Henretta, America: A Concise History, Volume 1: To 1877 (Boston, Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2010), 208.
2. Ibid.
3. Ibid, 209.
4. Ibid.
5. Ibid.
6. Gordon S. Wood, “Adams Appoints Marshall.” American Heritage (Vol. 59 issue 4, Winter 2010). http://www.americanheritage.com/content/adamsappoints-marshall

7. Henretta, America: A Concise History, 209.