Which President appointed the midnight judges?

Which President appointed the midnight judges?

• A. John Adams
• B. Thomas Jefferson
• C. James Madison
• D. George Washington

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is how a president uses the power to appoint federal judges, especially during a transition. John Adams used the final days of his presidency to push through a large number of judicial appointments, the so-called midnight judges, in an effort to keep Federalist influence on the courts after Jefferson took office. This last-minute move exemplifies how the presidency can shape the judiciary through appointments. The other presidents listed did not perform these last-minute judicial appointments: Jefferson was the incoming president who would not have appointed them after taking office, and Washington had long since set up the early framework of the federal judiciary, with Madison as his secretary of state handling commissions for future administrations.

The main idea here is how a president uses the power to appoint federal judges, especially during a transition. John Adams used the final days of his presidency to push through a large number of judicial appointments, the so-called midnight judges, in an effort to keep Federalist influence on the courts after Jefferson took office. This last-minute move exemplifies how the presidency can shape the judiciary through appointments. The other presidents listed did not perform these last-minute judicial appointments: Jefferson was the incoming president who would not have appointed them after taking office, and Washington had long since set up the early framework of the federal judiciary, with Madison as his secretary of state handling commissions for future administrations.