judicial appointments made by
John Adams just before the end of his presidential term in 1801. The Federalist-controlled Congress passed the
Judiciary Act of 1801, which created sixteen federal judgeships. Adams appointed Federalists who opposed the Democratic-Republican principles of his successor,
Thomas Jefferson. Many of the papers were signed just before midnight as a gesture of antagonism toward Jefferson, who called the men "midnight judges." Jefferson did not want to recognize the appointments, eventually leading to the repeal of the Judiciary Act of 1801 and the landmark
Marbury v. Madison, case.
