John Marshall: Chief Justice and His Rulings When President Thomas Jefferson took office in 1800, an official close to the Federalist's reign in the Executive branch occurred. However, democracy was unable to remove Federalist authority from the Judicial Branch. Jon Marshall sat atop the Judicial Branch as the Chief Justice with his Federalist origins up through the presidency of Andrew Jackson. Marshall had a firm belief in the need for a strong Central Government. This was a direct contradiction of the beliefs of Andrew Jackson, which were in State's rights, and the rule of the common man.