Sweat Shop Protest - Marbury v. Madison

Marbury v. Madison - Legal Case

It is indeed true that Marbury v. Madison is regarded to be one of the significant cases in which the Supreme Court extended a ruling. It will be really apt to delve on the circumstances and the actual significance of this case, considering its application and importance. This case brought to fore many important legal issues. Marbury v. Madison gains its importance and relevance from the fact that it happened to be a Supreme Court case in which the honorable court laid down the grounds for the exercise and application of the legal power of judicial review. In a way it would be pertinent to say that this Supreme Court ruling went ahead to decide the boundaries specific to the judicial branch and the executive branch of the United States government.

The circumstances of this case were such that preceding the actual inauguration of the US President Jefferson, the sitting President Adams in an attempt to consolidate and strengthen the Federal say in the American judiciary, brought to fore new judicial positions and nominated many Federal appointees to fill those judicial positions. In pursuance of this policy, President Adams in tandem with the Organic Act of District of Columbia appointed many new judicial appointees to fill the position of the justices of peace for this specific district. These judicial appointments were officially confirmed and approved by the Senate only a day prior to President Jefferson was inaugurated. The thing was that some of the above mentioned commissions were officially undelivered. Hence, as President Jefferson assumed office he conveyed to the then Secretary of State named James Madison to not to deliver these commissions. Subsequent to this one of these appointees Marbury sought Mandamus by the Supreme Court. The question that the Supreme Court was to decide was as to whether Marbury qualified to request for a mandamus by the Supreme Court.

In this Supreme Court ruling the majority opinion declared that Marbury had the right to request for a writ for mandamus yet Section 13 of the Judiciary Act of 1789 extending the actual jurisdiction of the Supreme Court of America happened to be unconstitutional. The Court also went ahead to declare that it was the solemn duty of the courts of law in the United States of America to protect and uphold the legal rights of the people. The courts were supposed to uphold these rights even if they went contrary to and against the wishes and intentions of the President of the nation.

The relevance of this case was that it established and consolidated the power and privilege of the Supreme Court to determine and ascertain whether and particular law passed and approved by Congress happened to be constitutional or not. Before this Supreme Court ruling it was accepted that any law contradicting the US Constitution happened to be unconstitutional. Yet, it was not known as to which branch of the government was entitled to determine the constitutionality of such laws. This Court ruling established and brought to fore the legal power of the judicial review. This consolidated and bolstered the systems of checks and balances required for strengthening the US democracy.

It needs to be mentioned that the Supreme Court ruling in Marbury v. Madison happened to be ground breaking as it established and consolidated the power of the judiciary as being a potential and pragmatic partner along with the Executive and Legislative arms of the American democracy. In that context this decision was of great importance.