Marshall John Books

John Marshall was a pivotal figure in the American legal system, shaping the nation's constitutional law and establishing the Supreme Court as a center of governmental power. His most enduring contribution was affirming the judiciary's power of judicial review, allowing courts to invalidate laws that conflict with the Constitution. Through this, Marshall cemented the courts' position as an independent and influential branch of government. Furthermore, his landmark decisions on federalism defined the balance of power between the federal government and the states in the republic's formative years.