Which U.S. Supreme Court case established the principle of judicial review?

The case that established the principle of judicial review is Marbury v. Madison. Decided in 1803, this landmark decision set the precedent that allows the Supreme Court to declare acts of Congress or state legislatures unconstitutional, thus asserting the judiciary's role as a co-equal branch of government.

In this case, William Marbury petitioned the Supreme Court 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 the specific circumstances of Marbury's request but also articulated the power of the Supreme Court to overturn laws that conflict with the Constitution. This was a pivotal moment in American constitutional law, affirming that the Constitution is the supreme law of the land and elevating the judiciary's authority in the federal government.

The other cases mentioned dealt with different issues, such as civil rights, slavery, and privacy rights, but none of them addressed the fundamental principle of judicial review, which is central to the structure of the American legal system.