(1801–1835) whose court opinions helped lay the basis for American constitutional law
and made the Supreme Court of the United States
a coequal branch of government
along with the legislative and executive branches. Previously, Marshall had been a leader of the Federalist Party in Virginia and served in the United States House of Representatives
from 1799 to 1800. He was Secretary of State
under President John Adams
from 1800 to 1801.
The longest-serving Chief Justice of the United States, Marshall dominated the Court for over three decades and played a significant role in the development of the American legal system.
It is emphatically the province and duty of the judicial department to say what the law is...If two laws conflict with each other, the courts must decide on the operation of each...This is of the very essence of judicial duty.
The people made the Constitution, and the people can unmake it. It is the creature of their own will, and lives only by their will.
The law does not expect a man to be prepared to defend every act of his life which may be suddenly and without notice alleged against him.
We must never forget that it is a constitution we are expounding.
This provision is made in a constitution, intended to endure for ages to come, and consequently, to be adapted to the various crises of human affairs.
Let the end be legitimate, let it be within the scope of the constitution, and all means which are appropriate, which are plainly adapted to that end, which are not prohibited, but consist with the letter and spirit of the constitution, are constitutional.
The power to tax involves the power to destroy.