Final Jeopardy: The Supreme Court (12-11-25)
The Final Jeopardy question (12/11/2025) in the category “The Supreme Court” was:
Chief Justice John Marshall wrote, “A law repugnant to the Constitution is void” in his landmark decision on this case
3x champ Will Riley, an engineer orig. from Houston, TX, is up to $54,403 after a close call yesterday. Today his opponents are: Jennifer Foote, a lawyer from Albuquerque, NM; and Francis Boyle, a playwright & teacher from Liberty Township, OH.
Round 1 Categories: Victorian England – As Defined by Merriam-Webster – “& The” Music Played On – Sun Kissed – How Many Squares Contain– – Bicycles
Will found the Jeopardy! round Daily Double in “Victorian England” under the $400 clue on the 4th pick of the round. He was in the lead with $1,800, $1,200 more than Francis in second place. Will made it a true Daily Double and he was RIGHT.
The Match Girls Strike of 1888 involved young women & their toxic exposure to this white element they put on match tips show
Will finished in the lead with $11,200. Jennifer was second with $2,600 and Francis was last with $1,400. All clues were shown.
Round 2 Categories: Notes & Queries – Second Letter “Y” – Science Facts – Eponymously Yours – Capital City Mayors – Not Amnesia Again…
Francis found the first Daily Double in “Notes & Queries” under the $1,600 clue on the 7th pick. He was in second place with $7,400 now, $7,000 less than Will’s lead. Francis said he waited a long time to say “let’s make it a true Daily Double, Alex” and he hoped Ken didn’t mind. Ken didn’t mind. Francis went with “Percy Jackson and the Olympians” but that was WRONG.
At the start of this Y.A. novel, the title character asks a higher power to not let “New Jersey be too horrible” show
6 clues later, Will got the last Daily Double in “Capital City Mayors” under the $1,600 clue. In the lead with $16,800, he had $14,200 more than Jennifer in second place. Will bet $3,000 and came up with Chicago. That was WRONG.
Mark Sutcliffe, who studied political science at Carleton University there show
Will finished in the lead with a runaway $17,000. Francis was next with $5,200 and Jennifer was in third place with $3,800. All clues were shown.
ALL of the contestants got Final Jeopardy! right.
WHAT IS MARBURY VS. MADISON?
Marbury v. Madison (1803) is a landmark Supreme Court decision, establishing the power of judicial review and the power of courts to invalidate laws passed by Congress that violate the U.S. Constitution. William Marbury was one of the “midnight judges” John Adams appointed the day before his presidency ended. Marbury’s judicial commission, although signed and sealed, went undelivered. He sought a writ of mandamus in court to compel James Madison, who succeeded John Marshall as Secretary of State, to deliver the commission.
The Federal Judiciary Center outlines the 3 basic points John Marshall boiled the case down to. He found that (1) Marbury was entitled to the commission; (2) Madison had a legal duty to deliver it; and (3) the Supreme Court could not issue a writ of mandamus because Section 13 of the Judiciary Act of 1789 violated Article III of the Constitution and was therefore invalid. Despite his “legal duty,” Madison never delivered the commission to Marbury.
Jennifer got it right. She bet $2,000 and finished with $5,800.
Francis got it too. He bet $1,200 and finished with $6,400.
Will made it unanimous. He gained $6,000 and won the match with $23,000. Will’s 4-day total is $77,403.
A triple stumper from each round:
“& THE” MUSIC PLAYED ON ($200) “I Would Die 4 U” to remember both the leader & the backing band behind that Top 10 hit
SECOND LETTER “Y” ($1200) Ancient religious rites held in honor of Demeter were known as the Eleusinian these
2 years ago: Only ONE of the players got this FJ in “BUSINESS”
Of the Big 4 U.S. airlines, the 4 that each have over 15% of the domestic market, it’s the youngest show
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Final EZPZ, DDs were not kind. Some loose play during this game, including “Chicago” as a capital city. Francis was up and down more than the elevator at Macy’s NYC during the Christmas season. He flubbed that big DD and also misread some clues, including when he said “untouchables” for the 6-letter caste. The French-named bicycle gear was the only listed stumper I knew for sure.
Agreed, Howard, Chicago was totally unexpected. I thought he might say Canberra or Wellington.
Your description of the ups and down of Francis is hilarious!
People call me Mr. Mushroom, because I’m a real fun guy.
With 4 wins, Will is locked in for TOC 2027. Tomorrow is the last regular game of 2025. Whoever wins that game will get to come back next year to defend their title. Second Chance begins on Monday.