who was responsible for establishing the supreme court as an independent branch of the government
John Marshall The longest-serving chief justice and the fourth longest-serving justice in U.S. Supreme Court history, Marshall played a significant role in the development of the American legal system during his 34 years in office, authoring nearly half of the Court's decisions during his tenure. He reinforced the principle that federal courts are obligated to exercise judicial review, by overturning purported laws, both state and federal, if they violate the United States Constitution. Marbury v. Madison (1803) remains the foundational case for this authority. Thus Marshall cemented the position of the American judiciary as an independent, co-equal, and influential branch of government. Furthermore, the Marshall Court made several important decisions relating to federalism, affecting the balance of power between the federal government and the states during the early years of the republic. In particular, Marshall repeatedly confirmed the supremacy of federal law over state law and supported an expansive reading of the enumerated powers. He most clearly articulated his philosophy in McCulloch v. Maryland (1819).