No. In the opinion of the Court, Marshall declared Marbury was entitled to his commission, but that the Supreme Court didn't have original jurisdiction to issue the writ of mandamus Marbury requested. Marshall explicitly stated Marbury would have to refile his case in a lower court first, then appeal to the Supreme Court if he failed to get relief at that level. Marbury never refiled his case.
Case Citation:
Marbury v. Madison, 5 US 137 (1803)
For more information, see Related Questions, below.
Marbury v. Madison
Marbury v. Madison (1803)
William Marbury brought suit to secure his position as a Justice of the Peace in Washington D.C. The appointment was one of the last minute "Midnight Judges" assignments made in the waning hours of the Adams' administration pursuant to the Organic Act of 1801 (not to be confused with the Judiciary Act of 1801, which reorganized the federal courts and added sixteen new circuit judges).Specifically, Marbury wanted the Supreme Court to issue a "Writ of Mandamus" (a judicial order compelling a government official to carry out the duties of his office) to Jefferson's Secretary of State James Madison. Marbury wanted Madison to deliver his commission so he could take office.Chief Justice John Marshall (Jefferson's second cousin) ruled that, while Marbury's appointment was legal, the Supreme Court lacked original jurisdiction over the case, preventing them from ordering the executive branch to do anything. Marshall told Marbury he would first have to pursue the case in a lower court, then petition the US Supreme Court under its appellate jurisdiction if his grievances weren't addressed.Marshall also ruled that Section 13 of the Judiciary Act of 1789, passed under George Washington, was unconstitutional. By declaring an Act of Congress unconstitutional, Chief Justice Marshall affirmed the court's right of "judical review."Marbury did not get his job.Case Citation:Marbury v. Madison, 5 US 137 (1803)For more information on Marbury v. Madison, see Related Questions, below.
Marbury vs. Madison
Marbury v. Madison, 5 US 137 (1803) is often credited with establishing the right of judicial review, which increased the Court's power and made it more equal to the other branches of government. Judicial review allows the Supreme Court to determine whether legislation is unconstitutional and to overturn those laws.For more in-depth information on Marbury v. Madison (1803), see Related Links, below.
Marbury v. Madison
Judicial Review
the right to interpret laws
Marbury v. Madison (1803)
The court ruled that Marbury had the right to recieve his letter, but the court did not have the power to order Madison to give it to him. This case proved the Judicary Act of 1789 unconstitutional.
Judicial Review
William Marbury brought suit to secure his position as a Justice of the Peace in Washington D.C. The appointment was one of the last minute "Midnight Judges" assignments made in the waning hours of the Adams' administration pursuant to the Organic Act of 1801 (not to be confused with the Judiciary Act of 1801, which reorganized the federal courts and added sixteen new circuit judges).Specifically, Marbury wanted the Supreme Court to issue a "Writ of Mandamus" (a judicial order compelling a government official to carry out the duties of his office) to Jefferson's Secretary of State James Madison. Marbury wanted Madison to deliver his commission so he could take office.Chief Justice John Marshall (Jefferson's second cousin) ruled that, while Marbury's appointment was legal, the Supreme Court lacked original jurisdiction over the case, preventing them from ordering the executive branch to do anything. Marshall told Marbury he would first have to pursue the case in a lower court, then petition the US Supreme Court under its appellate jurisdiction if his grievances weren't addressed.Marshall also ruled that Section 13 of the Judiciary Act of 1789, passed under George Washington, was unconstitutional. By declaring an Act of Congress unconstitutional, Chief Justice Marshall affirmed the court's right of "judical review."Marbury did not get his job.Case Citation:Marbury v. Madison, 5 US 137 (1803)For more information on Marbury v. Madison, see Related Questions, below.
In the order in which the Court has viewed this subject, the following questions have been considered and decided.Has the applicant a right to the commission he demands?If he has a right, and that right has been violated, do the laws of his country afford him a remedy?If they do afford him a remedy, is it a mandamus issuing from this court?Case Citation:Marbury v. Madison, 5 US 137 (1803)
Since Jefferson did not want the Federalists to obtain control of the judiciary branch of the government, he ordered these commissions not to be delivered. One of the people who did not receive his commission was William Marbury. Marbury asked for an order from the Supreme Court to deliver the commissions, however Jefferson instructed Madison to disregard the order. Marbury appealed to the Supreme Court
Marbury vs. Madison
John Marshall ruled that Marbury was entitled to his commission, but stated the US Supreme Court didn't have original jurisdiction over the case (could not hear the case as a trial court). Both sides won a partial victory; however, Marbury didn't pursue the case in the lower courts as Marshall stipulated, and didn't receive the commission he'd been promised, so Madison (Jefferson) won by default.William Marbury was a wealthy businessman and a member of the Federalist Party, who didn't really need or care about the commission, as his failure to follow-up attests. Marbury v. Madison represented an attempt on the Federalists' part to embarrass the new Democratic-Republic President, Thomas Jefferson. John Marshall's brilliant solution defused the situation and discouraged his fellow Federalists from using the Supreme Court as a means of attacking Jefferson.The decision also had the effect of affirming the Court's right of judicial review, which angered Jefferson, and which he never acknowledged as valid. Maybe the most accurate response is that the Supreme Court won.Case Citation:Marbury v. Madison, 5 US 137 (1803)
Marbury vs. Madison