Marshall rules courts can strike down unconstitutional laws in Marbury v. Madison

Chief Justice John Marshall ruled that Section 13 of the Judiciary Act of 1789 conflicted with Article III of the Constitution and was therefore void, establishing for the first time that the Supreme Court could invalidate an act of Congress. The case arose from President Jefferson's order to Secretary of State Madison to withhold a judicial commission John Adams had signed for William Marbury in the final hours of his presidency. By ruling against Marbury on jurisdictional grounds while simultaneously claiming the Court's power to police constitutional limits on legislation, Marshall established judicial review as a permanent feature of American government.