Our judges are as honest as other men, and not more so. They have, with others, the same passions for party, for power, and the privilege of their corps (group of people)....and their power the more dangerous as they are in office for life, and not responsible, as the other functionaries are, to the elective control.
This excerpt comes from a letter Jefferson wrote in response to the Supreme Courts decision on Matbury v. Madison. What was Jefferson's greatest concern?
Jefferson feels that congress should advise the Supreme Court on all constitutional matters.
Jefferson was concerned by the fact that judges were not elected.
Jefferson was concerned that the decision gave the Supreme Court too much authority.
Jefferson felt that judges were honest men and should not be questioned.
1 answer
Jefferson's greatest concern was that the decision in Marbury v. Madison gave the Supreme Court too much authority. He believed that the judges, like all other men, were not inherently more honest and could be influenced by party, power, and self-interest. He also criticized the fact that the judges held their positions for life and were not accountable to the electorate, making their unchecked power more dangerous.