<P> 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) represented an effort to solve an issue in the U.S. Supreme Court during the early 19th century . There was concern, beginning in 1789, about the system that required the Justices of the Supreme Court to "ride circuit" and reiterate decisions made in the appellate level courts . The Supreme Court Justices had often voiced concern and suggested that the judges of the Supreme and circuit courts be divided . President Thomas Jefferson did not want the judiciary to gain more power over the executive branch . </P> <P> The Act reduced the number of seats on the Supreme Court from 6 to 5, effective upon the next vacancy in the Court . No such vacancy occurred during the brief period the Act was in effect, so the size of the Court remained unchanged . The Act also created 16 new judgeships that John Adams rapidly began to fill in the last weeks of his presidency . These judges came to be known as the "Midnight Judges ." </P> <P> SEC . 3 . And be it further enacted, That from and after the next vacancy that shall happen in the said court, it shall consist of five justices only; that is to say, of one chief justice, and four associate justices . </P>

Who appointed the midnight judges leading to an important controversy over the courts