Marbury vs. Madison

Title: Marbury vs. Madison
Date: September, 30 2008
By: Melvin I. Urofsky


This case was decided in 1803 by the U.S. Supreme Court. William Marbury had been commissioned justice of the peace in the District of Columbia by President John Adams in the “midnight appointments” "One of the first acts of the new administration was to repeal the Judiciary Act of 1800, which had created a number of new judgeships. Although President Adams had attempted to fill the vacancies prior to the end of his term, a number of commissions had not been delivered, and one of the appointees, William Marbury, sued Secretary of State James Madison to force him to deliver his commission as a justice of the peace."
The effect of this case was that it began with the changing of presidential administrations. This particular election would in effect would be the first change of political power.