The case involved the validity of a local court established by Congress in the Florida Territory whose judges lacked life tenure, as mandated by Article III of the Constitution. Chief Justice John Marshall upheld the courts on the basis of Congress's broad power to enact local laws for territories under Article IV, Section 3, Clause 2 of the Constitution.
The case concerned the legitimacy of a local court established by Congress in the Florida Territory, whose judges lacked life tenure as mandated by Article III of the Constitution. Chief Justice John Marshall upheld these courts on the grounds that Congress had broad authority to enact local laws for territories under Article IV, Section 3, Clause 2 of the Constitution.