Changes

Jefferson had a surprise waiting for him when he was sworn into the office of President.  Before President Adams left office, Congress had passed a Judiciary Act to create many new federal courts below the U.S. Supreme Court, which is created by the Constitution itself.  President Adams appointed Federalist judges to all of the new judicial positions.   

Jefferson had a surprise waiting for him when he was sworn into the office of President.  Before President Adams left office, Congress had passed a Judiciary Act to create many new federal courts below the U.S. Supreme Court, which is created by the Constitution itself.  President Adams appointed Federalist judges to all of the new judicial positions.   

When Jefferson took office, he refused to pay the salaries of some of these "midnight judges" appointed by Adams.  This led to the famous court case of ''Marbury v. Madison'' (1803), where the Supreme Court held in Jefferson's favor by declaring a provision of the Judiciary Act to be unconstitutional.  This was the first time that the Supreme Court held a federal law to be unconstitutional.  More recently the Supreme Court has held many federal laws to be unconstitutional.

When Jefferson took office, he refused to pay the salaries of some of these "midnight judges" appointed by Adams.  This led to the famous court case of ''Marbury v. Madison'' (1803), where the Supreme Court held in Jefferson's favor by declaring a provision of the Judiciary Act to be unconstitutional.  This was the first time that the Supreme Court held a federal law to be unconstitutional, but since then the Supreme Court has held many federal laws to be unconstitutional.

== Jefferson Administration ==

== Jefferson Administration ==