If the court gave in and required James Madison to deliver the commission and Madison did not, the Court would have no way to force him to comply, and the Court would seem weak. If the Court did not act, it would seem like they ignored the case because they feared Madison would not comply. The Supreme Court decided to turn to the constitution. They concluded that William Marbury was entitled to his commission, but that the constitution did not authorize issuing a writ of mandamus to James Madison. The dispute revolved around the difference between the Court’s original jurisdiction, and its appellate jurisdiction. If the Court has original jurisdiction, it means that the case can go right through to the Supreme Court and make the Court the first ones to decide on the case. If the Supreme Court has appellate jurisdiction, the case must first be decided by lower courts. Marbury brought his case under original jurisdiction, so the Court ruled that it would be a poor exercise of the Court’s original jurisdiction to issue a writ of mandamus in this
If the court gave in and required James Madison to deliver the commission and Madison did not, the Court would have no way to force him to comply, and the Court would seem weak. If the Court did not act, it would seem like they ignored the case because they feared Madison would not comply. The Supreme Court decided to turn to the constitution. They concluded that William Marbury was entitled to his commission, but that the constitution did not authorize issuing a writ of mandamus to James Madison. The dispute revolved around the difference between the Court’s original jurisdiction, and its appellate jurisdiction. If the Court has original jurisdiction, it means that the case can go right through to the Supreme Court and make the Court the first ones to decide on the case. If the Supreme Court has appellate jurisdiction, the case must first be decided by lower courts. Marbury brought his case under original jurisdiction, so the Court ruled that it would be a poor exercise of the Court’s original jurisdiction to issue a writ of mandamus in this