John Marshall: Father of the Modern Judiciary If George Washington is the father of our country, and James Madison the father of the Constitution, then few will deny that John Marshall is the father of our modern federal court system. It is surprising, then, that there are so few serious studies of the Chief Justice's life. Every year there are a gross of biographies on Thomas Jefferson and his peers, but, until just recently, the …showed first 75 words of 1858 total…

…showed last 75 words of 1858 total…those who came after. Even those who were around to realize his influence first hand recognized his passing in July of 1835 as a national tragedy. The nation mourned that day. "When he died they rang the Liberty Bell in Independence Hall in his honor. The Bell cracked, never to ring again." Maximum Justice, Ellis, Joseph J. Father of the Court, Wood, Gordon S. Maximum Justice, Ellis, Joseph J. Father of the Court, Wood, Gordon S.