William Marbury (Marbury v. Madison)

William Marbury was one of several individuals appointed as a justice of the peace by President John Adams in the final days of his presidency. When Thomas Jefferson became president, his administration refused to deliver some of these appointments, including Marbury's. Marbury then petitioned the Supreme Court to compel the delivery of his commission. The case, Marbury v. Madison (1803), established the principle of judicial review, meaning that the Supreme Court has the authority to review laws and government actions to determine if they are constitutional. This decision greatly shaped the power of the judiciary in the United States.