SCOTUS Comparison: Judicial Review and Equal Protection

In the landmark cases of Marbury v. Madison (1803) and Brown v. Board of Education (1954), the Supreme Court addressed critical questions regarding the principles of judicial review and equal protection under the law. In Marbury, the Court established the principle of judicial review, asserting its authority to invalidate laws that conflict with the Constitution. Conversely, in Brown, the Court ruled that state-sponsored segregation in public schools violated the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.

In a well-organized essay, compare and contrast the significance of judicial review in Marbury v. Madison and the principle of equal protection as it was applied in Brown v. Board of Education. Include specific references to the rulings and reasoning of both cases, and explain how these principles interact within the context of American constitutional democracy.