Who were the midnight judges in America during the 1800s? Also, can someone please explain the cause of Marbury vs. Madison and what the effect of Marbury vs. Madison was? Thank you.
http://www.answers.com/topic/midnight-judges
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marbury_v._Madison
Thank you!
The term "midnight judges" refers to a group of judges appointed by outgoing President John Adams in the final hours of his presidency in 1801. These judicial appointments were made in an effort to maintain Federalist influence in the judiciary, as the Democratic-Republican Party was set to take power with the newly elected President, Thomas Jefferson.
To understand the cause of the famous Supreme Court case Marbury vs. Madison, we need to go back to the turbulent political landscape of the time. In 1800, John Adams and his Federalist party were defeated by Thomas Jefferson and his Democratic-Republican party. However, in the lame-duck period between the election and the inauguration, Adams appointed a number of Federalist judges, including William Marbury, to various positions within the judiciary.
The newly appointed Secretary of State, James Madison, refused to deliver the official commission document to Marbury, preventing him from assuming his position. Marbury sought recourse from the Supreme Court by filing a writ of mandamus, asking the court to order Madison to deliver the commission.
The case reached the Supreme Court in 1803, where Chief Justice John Marshall presided. However, the court ultimately ruled that Marbury's claim was not within the court's original jurisdiction, stating that the Judiciary Act of 1789, which granted the Court jurisdiction in such cases, was unconstitutional.
This ruling was significant because it established the principle of judicial review. In other words, the Supreme Court asserted its power to review acts of Congress and determine their constitutionality. By invalidating a portion of the Judiciary Act of 1789, the Court declared that it had the authority to interpret the Constitution and strike down laws that it deemed unconstitutional.
The effect of Marbury vs. Madison was to establish the Supreme Court's power of judicial review, which has been a hallmark of the American legal system ever since. This decision laid the foundation for the Court's role in interpreting the Constitution and checking the power of the other branches of government. Judicial review remains a crucial aspect of American democracy, allowing the Court to ensure that legislative and executive actions adhere to the principles outlined in the Constitution.