Who expanded the power of the US Supreme Court?

Answer 1

1803 The first expansion of power for the US Supreme Court was a case called "Marbury VS Madison" (5 US Cranch 1, 137). This case basically defined the US System as a dual system (State / Federal) and put the US Supreme Court as the 'final arbitrator of any constitutional issue' (quoting the court). 1937 / 1942 The second expansion of power was taken under two cases; Wickard v. Filburn (317 US 111) & West Coast Hotel Co. v. Parrish, (300 US 379). These cases expanded the constitution (conceptually) to allow the Federal Government to start socialist programs (known collectively as "The Big Deal" of FDR) and expand powers to interstate commerce (that were unknown before these rulings). 1954 Brown v. Board of Education (347 US 483) / 1971 Cohen v. California (403 US 15) / 1966 Miranda v. Arizona (384 US 436). Each of these cases are interrelated to the federal constitutional rights that exist at a state level; without a state provision to establish that right or specific right. Segregation, Gay Marriage, and Abortion all fall under these lines of cases. These cases established that the US Supreme Court can make state laws void if they violate the US Constitution (all states are subservient to the US Constitution). Please note that these are the major expansion of powers only.

Answer 2

Fourth Chief Justice John Marshall is credited with expanding the power of the Supreme Court, and of the Judicial Branch in general.