Washington Administrations - Washington and the Judiciary
Washington and the Judiciary
During Washington's two terms in office, the judiciary did not develop into an equal branch of government. Even more than the executive and legislative branches, the new Supreme Court found itself in uncharted territory. The Constitution of the United States created the basic framework for a government, however, the document contained many vague clauses and unanswered questions regarding the powers and responsibilities of the various branches of the federal government, including the judiciary. These so-called "Silences of the Constitution" left Congress with much discretionary power. The Constitution, in Article III, Sections 1 and 2, provided for an independent judiciary to consist of a Supreme Court and inferior courts. The general jurisdiction of the court system was defined in Section 2. Under Washington's guidance, the Judiciary Act of 1789 carried out this mandate by creating a Supreme Court, three...
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