Midnight Judges Act

The Midnight Judges Act (also known as the Judiciary Act of 1801; 2 Stat. 89, and officially An act to provide for the more convenient organization of the Courts of the United States) expanded the federal judiciary of the United States. The act was supported by the John Adams administration and the Federalist Party. Passage of the act has been described as "the last major policy achievement of the Federalists."

Proponents of the act argued that the current judicial structure required too much work from justices of the U.S. Supreme Court. The existing system required the justices to "ride circuit" to inferior appellate courts, in an era of slow and costly travel. The new act replaced the requirement with additional appellate court justices.

Opponents of the act argued that there was no need to expand the federal judiciary; that the judicial appointments were intended to cement Federalist Party control of the judiciary; and that appointments were rushed (hence they were stigmatized as "midnight appointments").

The act was repealed by the incoming Thomas Jefferson administration on January 22, 1802, and then partially replaced in the Judiciary Act of 1802.