Marbury vs Madison

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…not ordered to deliver the commission to Marbury. Marshall was able to declare a law of Congress unconstitutional, and he did it in a way that required no action on the part of the executive branch. Thus, Jefferson, who opposed judicial review, could not stop Marshall's opinion from having a legal effect. Most importantly, the opinion established the right, the power, and the commitment of the courts to strike down laws that violate the Constitution.