The Federalist Party had been defeated in the election of 1800. John Adams, a federalist decided to appoint several Federalist supporters as justices of the peace in the District of Columbia. These were sometimes known as the "Midnight Judges". The previous Secretary of State, John Marshall was told to deliver the commissions but he had left out 17 commissions before Thomas Jefferson, the newly elected president, was inaugurated. Once Jefferson became president, he told the current Secretary of State, James Madison not to deliver the remaining commissions. …
