William Marbury
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William Marbury (November 7th, 1762 - 1835[1]) was one of the famous "Midnight Judges". Due to President John Adams's work in the night before he was to leave office, Marbury was to be appointed a Justice of the Peace in the District of Columbia. Marbury tried to take office as one of these judges, but was blocked by James Madison. Due to this, Marbury sued, resulting in the landmark case Marbury vs. Madison.
[edit] Early Life
William Marbury was born in Piscataway, Maryland. Named after his father, Marbury spent most of his early life in Maryland around his home.
[edit] Marbury vs. Madison
Marbury v. Madison, was a landmark case in United States law and the basis for the exercise of judicial review of Federal statutes by the Supreme Court of the United States under Article Three of the United States Constitution.
The case resulted from a petition to the Court by William Marbury, who had been appointed as Justice of the Peace in the District of Columbia by President John Adams shortly before leaving office, but whose commission was not delivered as required by John Marshall, Adams's Secretary of State. When Thomas Jefferson assumed office, he ordered the new Secretary of State, James Madison, to withhold Marbury's and several other men's commissions. Marbury and three others petitioned the Court to force Madison to deliver the commission to Marbury. The case was ultimately unsuccessful for Marbury, who never became a Justice of the Peace in the District of Columbia.
