Marbury v. Madison (1803) was a landmark U.S. Supreme Court case that established the principle of judicial review. This case arose when William Marbury petitioned for a writ of mandamus, seeking to compel Secretary of State James Madison to deliver his commission as a justice of the peace. Chief Justice John Marshall's ruling asserted the Court's authority to invalidate laws conflicting with the Constitution, thus shaping the balance of power among branches of government.
