Judiciary Act of 1801
From Ballotpedia
The Judiciary Act of 1801, also known as the Circuit Court Act, was passed at the very end of President John Adams's administration and during the second session of the Sixth Congress. The act became law on February 13, 1801 after passing first the House (on January 20th, 1801) and then the Senate (on February 7, 1801).
Because of its last-minute nature of passage, many of the judicial appointments became known as midnight judges (or sometimes, midnight appointments). These appointments were challenged in the Supreme Court case Marbury et al. v. Madison.
The Judiciary Act of 1801 created six distinct judicial circuits in order to increase the power of the judiciary. It also created three judgeships for the five circuits east of the Appalachian mountains. It abolished the practice of "riding circuit" for the Justices of the Supreme Court, since new judges presided over the courts.[1]
Legacy
The Act of 1801 was overturned by the Judiciary Act of 1802. Since the Act of 1802 still kept the six circuit system, it could be considered as expanding the power of the federal judiciary.[2] Furthermore, with the decision of Marbury v. Madison, Chief Justice John Marshall established the concept of judicial review. This empowered the federal judiciary as the third branch of the federal government.[3]
