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It is far too easy for citizens in a nation such as the United States of America to take for granted the remarkable and enduring form of government they enjoy. That’s why anniversaries such as the one occurring today are worth noting.
On this day 200 years ago, the U.S. Supreme Court led by Chief Justice John Marshall rendered the historic ruling known as Marbury v. Madison. Some call it the most important decision ever handed down by the Supreme Court.
For the first time in the young nation’s history, it became clear that the judiciary actually stood on equal footing with the executive and legislative branches of government.
The ruling established the rule of law over rule by power. It ensured the balance of power between the three branches of government. And it established the Supreme Court as the arbiter of the Constitution, as the final authority on what the document meant.
Ample opportunity is being provided today by the Utah State Bar Association to learn more about this landmark case. School students are spending time with judges. Radio and television programs are on the docket. And information about the ruling is being published in major newspapers.
KSL encourages Utahns to take time to learn more about Marbury v. Madison. More importantly, reflect on the quality of life in this nation where the rule of law has been sustained peacefully for more than two centuries.
