Which landmark case established the principle of judicial review?

The principle of judicial review was established in the landmark case of Marbury v. Madison. This case, decided in 1803, is significant because it affirmed the authority of the Supreme Court to review and invalidate legislation and executive actions that are found to be unconstitutional.

In this case, Chief Justice John Marshall articulated the fundamental role of the judiciary in protecting the Constitution and ensuring that no law or governmental action can supersede it. The decision clarified that the courts have the power to interpret the law and judge the legitimacy of acts passed by Congress, thus laying the groundwork for the judiciary's ability to check the powers of the other branches of government.

The other cases mentioned—Brown v. Board of Education, Roe v. Wade, and Lemon v. Kurtzman—each focus on important constitutional issues such as civil rights, reproductive rights, and the separation of church and state, but none of them established the principle of judicial review, which remains a cornerstone of the American legal system as affirmed in Marbury v. Madison.