Final answer:
The Supreme Court case that established the principle of judicial review was Marbury v. Madison in 1803, in which Chief Justice John Marshall defined the judiciary's role in the U.S. checks and balances system by asserting its power to declare acts of Congress unconstitutional.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Supreme Court case that established the principle of judicial review was Marbury v. Madison in 1803. This landmark case confirmed the power of the Supreme Court to deem legislation unconstitutional, effectively granting it a pivotal role in the system of checks and balances within the U.S. government.
Chief Justice John Marshall played a crucial role in the decision, asserting the Court's authority in matters of constitutional interpretation. The case arose when William Marbury petitioned the Court after not receiving his commission as a justice of the peace. In his ruling, Marshall concurred that Marbury was entitled to legal remedy, but that the Judiciary Act of 1789 was in conflict with the Constitution, as it extended the Court's original jurisdiction beyond what the Constitution allowed.
Thus, by declaring the Judiciary Act unconstitutional, Marbury v. Madison established the principle of judicial review, reinforcing the judiciary's ability to invalidate legislative and executive actions that are in violation of the Constitution. Despite the Constitution being silent on judicial review, this case firmly positioned the judiciary as an equal branch of government, with the power to interpret law at the highest level.