Final answer:
Thomas Jefferson withheld documents for the "midnight judges" to prevent the Federalist party from controlling the judiciary, leading to the Marbury v. Madison case where the principle of judicial review was established.
Step-by-step explanation:
Thomas Jefferson withheld the delivery of the essential documents needed to swear in the "midnight judges", such as William Marbury, to prevent the Federalist party from maintaining control over the judiciary. In the waning hours of John Adams's presidency, the Federalists had passed the Judiciary Act of 1801 to create new judgeships and appoint Federalist judges to those positions. The Senate confirmed these appointments, but some commissions, like Marbury's, were not delivered before Adams's term ended. Upon taking office, Jefferson instructed his Secretary of State James Madison not to deliver these commissions, attempting to keep the Federalists from exerting influence on the judiciary during his administration. The situation led to the landmark Supreme Court case, Marbury v. Madison, in which Chief Justice John Marshall established the principle of judicial review, though denying Marbury his commission.