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The case that reinforced the power of the courts is Marbury v. Madison. This landmark decision, decided in 1803, established the principle of judicial review, which allows the Supreme Court to declare an act of Congress unconstitutional. This case marked a pivotal moment in the development of the American legal system by asserting the judiciary's role as a co-equal branch of government alongside the executive and legislative branches.

By affirming the court's authority to interpret the Constitution, Marbury v. Madison empowered the judiciary to check the powers of the other branches of government. This was crucial in ensuring that no law or government action could violate the Constitution. As a result, it set a precedent that continues to influence the relationship between the judiciary and the other branches of government to this day.

While other cases mentioned also had significant implications for civil rights and liberties, they did not primarily focus on the authority and power of the judicial system itself in the same foundational way as Marbury v. Madison.