What landmark case established the principle of judicial review?

The principle of judicial review, which grants courts the authority to invalidate laws and actions that are found to be in conflict with the Constitution, was established in the landmark case of Marbury vs. Madison. This 1803 Supreme Court case arose when William Marbury petitioned the Court for a writ of mandamus to compel Secretary of State James Madison to deliver his commission as a justice of the peace. Chief Justice John Marshall's ruling not only addressed Marbury's request but also asserted the Supreme Court's role in interpreting the Constitution.

By declaring that the portion of the Judiciary Act of 1789 that allowed Marbury to bring his claim to the Supreme Court was unconstitutional, the Court effectively affirmed its power to review and nullify acts of Congress that are deemed unconstitutional. This established a foundational principle of American constitutional law, influencing the balance of power among the branches of government and ensuring that no law can override the Constitution.

The other cases mentioned don't deal with the establishment of judicial review. Brown vs. Board of Education dealt with racial segregation in schools, McCulloch vs. Maryland focused on federal power versus state power and the taxation of federal institutions, and Plessy vs. Ferguson upheld the "separate but equal" doctrine regarding racial