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John Jay
He was first offered the position of Secretary of State and declined. George Washington then offered Jay the position of Chief Justice of the United States. He was nominated on September 24 1789, and confirmed by the U.S. Senate two days later. -
John Marshall
Became fourth Chief Justice of the United States on January 30, 1801. Spent 34 years in the Supreme Court and helped to strengthen it. -
Marbury v. Madison
Marbury was appointed last minute to a government post created by Congress, but it was never fully finalized. Him and other people appointed along with him decided to sue for their jobs in the supreme court. It was decided that when Congress conflicts with an act of legislature, it is invalid. -
Fletcher v. Peck
In 1795, the Georgia state legislature passed a land grant awarding territory to four companies. The following year, the legislature voided the law and declared all rights and claims under it to be invalid. In 1800, John Peck acquired land and sold it land to Robert Fletcher three years later. Fletcher argued that since the original sale of the land had been declared invalid, Peck didn't have a right to sell it. The Court decided that the Georgia Legislature could not take away the land. -
Dartmouth College v. Woodward
New Hampshire legistlature attempted to change Dartmouth College into a state university. The legislature changed the charter by transferring the control of trustee appointments to the governor. The old trustees then filed suit against William H. Woodward, who sided with the newly appointed trustees. The Supreme Court decided that Dartmouth's corporate charter qualified as a contract between private parties, with which the legislature could not interfere. -
Gibbons v. Ogden
One of the New York State laws gave two people the exclusive right to operate steamboats on waters within state jurisdiction. Chief Justice Marshall decided that the authority to regulate the navigation of steamboat operators and others to conduct interstate commerce was for Congress. -
Worcester v. Georgia
Worcester and others, all non-Native Americans, were found guilty for "residing within the limits of the Cherokee nation without a license" and "without having taken the oath to support and defend the constitution and laws of the state of Georgia." An act in 1830 in Georgia stated ,"to prevent the exercise of assumed and arbitrary power by all persons, under pretext of authority from the Cherokee Indians." Worcester was found guilty and sentenced to jail for four years. -
McCollough v. Maryland
