Judiciary Act of 1801 Allowed president Adams?

Answer 1

The Judiciary Act of 1801 allowed President Adams to pack the federal courts with members of his Federalist Party. The judges appointed to the new Circuit Courts are often called the "Midnight Judges," because Adams made all the appointments during his last few weeks in office.

Explanation

The Judiciary Act of 1801 advanced the Federalists' agenda by reorganizing the national court system and adding six Circuit Courts that shifted jurisdiction over many federal cases from the States to the federal government. The Democratic-Republicans believed this weakened the States, but were unable to stop the bill from passing because the Federalist party controlled the Sixth Congress.

From 1792 until 1800, the Federalists dominated government and set the agenda for the nation. This trend changed as a result of the 1800 election, when the dominant party suffered massive defeat to Jefferson's Democratic-Republicans, losing control of both the White House and Congress.

In a desperate attempt to maintain influence in government, the lame duck Federalists quickly passed the Judiciary Act of 1801 and other legislation that allowed President Adams to pack the courts with Federalist judges in the final days of his administration.

The Supreme Court's composition changed, with the number of justices reduced from six to five (by attrition), so that two justices would have to leave the bench before Jefferson had an opportunity to make his first nomination. Additionally, incumbent Chief Justice Oliver Ellsworth graciously agreed to retire in early 1801, allowing Adams to select the new Chief Justice before leaving office. (Adams nominated his Secretary of State, John Marshall, who presided over the Court for the next 34 years.)

While the incoming Jefferson administration controlled two of the three branches of government, under Adams' plan, they could expect to face resistance from a Judicial branch full of permanently ensconced Federalist judges for many years to come.

Jefferson and the new Congress successfully thwarted the Federalists by passing the Repeal Act of 1802 (March 1802), thereby eliminating all the new federal judgeships, and temporarily reinstating the Judiciary Act of 1789, which restored the size of the Court to six justices and simultaneously canceled the 1802 Terms of the Supreme Court.

The US Supreme Court case, Marbury v. Madison, while based on different legislation (the Organic Act of 1801), offers great insight into the animosity between the two political parties of that era.

Answer 2

To appoint man federalists as judges before his term as president expired.