Brief Fact Summary. William Marbury was a justice of the peace appointed by John Adams during his presidency. When Adams left the White House, Marbury did not receive his commission under the new president, James Madison.
Synopsis of Rule of Law. If there is a conflict between any law and the U.S. Constitution, it is within the judicial power granted to the Supreme Court to determine whether the law is unconstitutional. This process is called judicial review.
Facts. While President of the United States, John Adams (Adams) appointed several justices, including justices of the peace, in the District of Columbia. Adams signed the Commissions for these justices, but the Commissions were not delivered before his term expired. William Marbury (Marbury) was one of the justices of the peace appointed by Adams. When Thomas Jefferson (Jefferson) became President of the United States, he ordered his Secretary of State James Madison (Madison), to withhold these Commissions. Marbury brought suit directly in the Supreme Court, asking for a Writ of Mandamus to compel Madison to deliver the Commissions.
Issue. Is Marbury entitled to his Commission, and if so, do the laws provide a remedy?
If Marbury is entitled to a remedy, can it be in the form of a Writ of Mandamus from the Supreme Court?
Held. Justice John Marshall (J. Marshall) held Marbury was entitled to his Commission when Adams signed the Commissions prior to leaving office. To determine whether Marbury had a remedy, J. Marshall distinguished political acts from acts specifically required by law. J. Marshall ruled the denial of the Commission fell into the latter category and was reviewable by the courts.
The Supreme Court of the United States (Supreme Court) determined Marbury was entitled to a remedy. However, Marbury was not entitled to a remedy in the form of a Writ of Mandamus issued by the Supreme Court. J. Marshall explained that Section: 2 of the United States Constitution (the Constitution) gives original jurisdiction to the Supreme Court only in, “[c]ases affecting Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, and those in which a State shall be a Party.” This holding was contrary to the Judiciary Act of 1789 (the Act), which did authorize the Supreme Court to issue Writs of Mandamus on behalf of any person holding office in the United States. J. Marshall therefore concluded that the part of the Act authorizing the Supreme Court to Writs of Mandamus under these circumstances was unconstitutional and that the Supreme Court did not have the authority to issue a Writ.
Discussion. The Supreme Court, rather than Congress, determines whether or not a statute is constitutional through judicial review. This was the first case to establish the Supreme Court’s judicial review powers.