Question: What impact did John Adams have on strengthening the Judicial branch?
Answer: Adams appointed federalist John Marshall as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. Marshall’s interpretation of judicial powers according to the Constitution made the branch equal to the legislative and executive branches. The idea of checks and balances has since worked well in avoiding major open conflicts between the three branches of government. The idea of judicial review, the ability of the Supreme Court to judge laws unconstitutional, came about early in Marshall’s tenure in the case, Marbury v. Madison.
