the united states congress appointed the midnight judges leading to an important controversy over the courts.
the united states congress appointed the midnight judges leading to an important controversy over the courts.
who appointed the midnight judges leading to an important controversy over the courts?
the united states congress
after the federalists lost control of both houses of congress along with the white house in the election of 1800, the lame-duck session of the 6th congress in february 1801 approved a judiciary act, commonly known as the midnight judges act, which created a set of federal appeals courts between the district courts and the supreme court. adams filled the vacancies created in this statute by appointing a series of judges, whom his opponents called the "midnight judges," just days before his term expired. most of these judges lost their posts when the 7th congress, with a solid republican majority, approved the judiciary act of 1802, abolishing the newly created courts.
john adams
the midnight judges act (also known as the judiciary act of 1801; , and officially an act to provide for the more convenient organization of the courts of the united states) represented an effort to solve an issue in the u.s. supreme court during the early 19th century. there was concern, beginning in 1789, about the system that required the justices of the supreme court to "ride circuit" and reiterate decisions made in the appellate level courts. the supreme court justices had often voiced concern and suggested that the judges of the supreme and circuit courts be divided. president thomas jefferson did not want the judiciary to gain more power over the executive branch.
midnight judges act