Marbury sued James Madison BECAUSE JAMES REFUSED TO HAND OVER HIS COMMISSION TO HIM.
President John Adams appointed some people as justice of peace just before he existed office and Marbury happened to be one of these people. When the new president came in [Thomas Jefferson], he refused to recognize these people and he instructed his sectary of state, who happened to be James Madison to hold back from giving the appointed people their commissions.
The commission represents the evidence that these people have been appointed by the president. Due to this, Marbury sued James by taking the case to the supreme court.
