Our judges are as honest as other men, and not more so. They have, with others, the same passions for party, for power, and the privilege of their corps [group of people]. . . . and their power the more dangerous as they are in office for life, and not responsible, as the other functionaries are, to the elective control.
—Thomas Jefferson, Letter to William Charles Jarvis, Sept. 28, 1820
Question
This excerpt comes from a letter Jefferson wrote in response to the Supreme Court’s decision on Marbury v. Madison. What was Jefferson’s greatest concern?
(1 point)
Responses
He was concerned that the decision gave the Supreme Court too much authority.
He was concerned that the decision gave the Supreme Court too much authority.
He was concerned by the fact that judges were not elected.
He was concerned by the fact that judges were not elected.
He was concerned that judges could be easily influenced by political parties.
He was concerned that judges could be easily influenced by political parties.
He was concerned that the decision set a dangerous precedent for cases heard by the Supreme Court.
(1 point)
He was concerned that the decision set a dangerous precedent for cases heard by the Supreme Court.
Based on the provided excerpt from Thomas Jefferson's letter, his greatest concern regarding the Supreme Court's decision on Marbury v. Madison was that the judges could be easily influenced by political parties. Jefferson expressed worry about judges having the same passions for party, power, and privileges as other men. He believed that, being in office for life and not responsible to the elective control like other functionaries, judges held a more dangerous amount of power. This suggests that Jefferson was concerned about the potential for political bias and corruption among judges, specifically their susceptibility to being influenced by political parties. Therefore, the correct response is:
He was concerned that judges could be easily influenced by political parties.