Who was William Marbury in the landmark case Marbury v. Madison?

Who was William Marbury in the landmark case Marbury v. Madison?

• A. The defendant
• B. A Supreme Court Justice
• C. The plaintiff
• D. A federal clerk who filed a petition

Answer: (C)

William Marbury was the plaintiff. He had been appointed a justice of the peace in the District of Columbia by President Adams, but his commission hadn’t been delivered by James Madison. Marbury filed suit in the Supreme Court seeking a writ of mandamus to compel Madison to deliver the commission. In this context, the party who brings the claim and asks for relief is the plaintiff, while the other side would be the defendant. So Marbury’s role in the case is that of the plaintiff.

William Marbury was the plaintiff. He had been appointed a justice of the peace in the District of Columbia by President Adams, but his commission hadn’t been delivered by James Madison. Marbury filed suit in the Supreme Court seeking a writ of mandamus to compel Madison to deliver the commission. In this context, the party who brings the claim and asks for relief is the plaintiff, while the other side would be the defendant. So Marbury’s role in the case is that of the plaintiff.