In Marbury v. Madison, what action is associated with Thomas Jefferson?

In Marbury v. Madison, what action is associated with Thomas Jefferson?

• A. A federal clerk who filed a petition
• B. Wrote the majority rationale
• C. Issued the Supreme Court's opinion
• D. Ordered commissions of federalist judges be withheld

Answer: (C)

Thomas Jefferson is associated with directing James Madison to withhold the delivery of commissions for the midnight judges. When Jefferson took office, he instructed Madison, then Secretary of State, not to deliver those commissions, which sparked Marbury’s lawsuit seeking a writ of mandamus. The Supreme Court’s opinion in Marbury v. Madison, however, was written by Chief Justice John Marshall, not Jefferson, and it established the principle of judicial review.

Thomas Jefferson is associated with directing James Madison to withhold the delivery of commissions for the midnight judges. When Jefferson took office, he instructed Madison, then Secretary of State, not to deliver those commissions, which sparked Marbury’s lawsuit seeking a writ of mandamus. The Supreme Court’s opinion in Marbury v. Madison, however, was written by Chief Justice John Marshall, not Jefferson, and it established the principle of judicial review.