1803 "American History a Survey"

"American History  a Survey"

  Richard N, Current - University of Wisconsin
  T. Harry Williams - Louisiana State University
  Frank Freidel - Harvard University

1961 - New York    -  Alfred A. Knopf

page 182

"While the case of 'Marbury v. Madison' was still pending, President Jefferson prepared for a renewed assault upon that Federalist stronghold, the judiciary.  If he could not remove the most obnoxious of the judges directly, perhaps he could do so indirectly through the process of impeachment.
According to the Constitution, the House of Representatives was empowered to bring impeachment
charges against  any civil officer for "high crimes and misdemeanors,"  and the Senate sitting as a court was authorized to try the officer on the charges.  Jefferson sent evidence to the House to show
that one of the district judges, John Pickering of New  Hampshire, was unfit for his position.
The House accordingly impeached him, and the Senate, despite his obvious insanity, found him guilty of high crimes and misdemeanors.  He was removed."