Final answer:
Thomas Jefferson attacked the Federalist court system by refusing to deliver commissions, leading to the landmark case of Marbury v. Madison which established the Supreme Court's power of judicial review.
Step-by-step explanation:
During his presidency, Thomas Jefferson attacked the Federalist court system by refusing to deliver the commissions of Federalist justices appointed by John Adams. One of the most significant cases that arose from this conflict was Marbury v. Madison in 1803.
William Marbury, a Federalist appointee, sued James Madison, Jefferson's Secretary of State, to force him to deliver his commission. The Supreme Court, under Chief Justice John Marshall, ruled against Marbury but also declared a provision of the Judiciary Act of 1789 unconstitutional. This decision established the Supreme Court's power of judicial review.
Jefferson's actions and Marshall's decision in Marbury v. Madison were key episodes in the ongoing power struggle between Federalists and Republicans during this time period.