the constitution discusses the authority of the supreme court in article three.
the constitution discusses the authority of the supreme court in article three.
where does the constitution discuss the authority of the supreme court?
article three
the legality of virginia's confiscation of the northern neck proprietary lands continued to be contested in state and federal courts long after denny fairfax's death in 1800. the virginia supreme court upheld the state's confiscation and conveyance of the proprietary's lands, arguing that the terms of the jay treaty with the kingdom of great britain did not address the disputed proprietary. in 1813, the united states supreme court reviewed the virginia supreme court's decision in "fairfax's devisee v. hunter's lessee", 11 u.s. 603, and ruled that the treaty did in fact cover the dispute, and remanded the case back to the state supreme court. the virginia supreme court ruled that the u.s. supreme court did not have authority over cases originating in state courts. the state supreme court's refusal to accept the u.s. supreme court's mandate was appealed in 1816 in "martin v. hunter's lessee", 14 u.s. 304. the u.s. supreme court reversed the state court's decision on appeal and ruled that article three of the united states constitution granted the u.s. supreme court jurisdiction and authority over state courts on matters involving federal law. chief justice john marshall was forced to recuse himself from ruling in "martin v. hunter's lessee" as he and his brother james had previously contracted with denny fairfax to purchase the disputed proprietary lands.
thomas bryan martin
in 1813, the supreme court reversed a decision of the virginia court of appeals, basing its decision on the terms of a federal treaty. the virginia court of appeals refused to accept the supreme court's decision, stating that under the constitution, the supreme court did not have authority over state courts. the virginia court held that as a matter of state sovereignty, its decisions were final and could not be appealed to the u.s. supreme court. the virginia court found unconstitutional the federal statute providing for supreme court review of state court judgments. this decision would have allowed each state's courts to decide for themselves whether federal actions were unconstitutional, effectively giving state courts the right to nullify federal law. in "martin v. hunter's lessee", 14 u.s. (1 wheat.) 304 (1816), the supreme court rejected this view. the supreme court held that article iii of the constitution gives the federal courts jurisdiction in all cases arising under the constitution or federal law, and gives the supreme court final authority in such cases. the supreme court stated that the people, by providing in the constitution that the supreme court has final authority in such cases, had chosen to limit the sovereignty of the states. the supreme court therefore found that the federal courts, not the states, have the final power to interpret the constitution.
nullification (u.s. constitution)