Federal Trials and Great Debates in U.S. History: Judicial Independence is part of the FJC and ABA’s joint programming promoting the teaching and public understanding of judicial history. This series discusses the history of judicial independence and examines three key cases: Marbury v. Madison (1803), Ex parte McCardle (1869), and City of Boerne v. Flores (1997). Written materials related to each case are available under the Judicial Independence tab in the Cases that Shaped the Federal Courts series.

The video series includes four sessions:  

*Session 1: Introduction. This video features a short overview of the idea of judicial independence and its history from Professor Tara Leigh Grove.

*Session 2: Historical Cases. Professor Tara Leigh Grove examines three key cases that shaped the federal courts and helped answer important questions related to judicial independence. 

*Session 3: Federal Judge Panel. U.S. District Court Judge Ann Donnelly and U.S. Court of Appeals Judge Jeffrey Sutton discuss the importance of judicial independence historically and in the present from their perspective on the bench. 

*Session 4: Analyzing Primary Sources. FJC historians Christine Lamberson and Jake Kobrick analyze three primary sources related to Ex parte McCardle. 

Session 1: Introduction

Session 2: Historical Cases

Session 3: Federal Judge Panel

Session 4: Analyzing Primary Sources