The Full Read · Article by Article
Alison Julie Nathan
Second Circuit · appt. Biden
7/7
🥇 Fit for the Bench
1Ethics & Recusalcritical
72%★ earned
“No man is allowed to be a judge in his own cause.” — Madison, Federalist No. 10
No documented disclosure, gift, or recusal lapses across her district and appellate service.
2Fidelity to Democracycritical
74%★ earned
“…a government of laws, and not of men.” — Marshall, Marbury v. Madison
No documented involvement in election subversion; conventional respect for the constitutional order and precedent.
3Judicial Temperament
72%★ earned
“Justice must satisfy the appearance of justice.” — Frankfurter
As an SDNY judge she was sharply critical of prosecutors in the Nejad case, but toward misconduct, not incivility to parties.
4Reason, Not Ideology
73%★ earned
“We are not final because we are infallible…” — Robert H. Jackson
Her lengthy Nejad opinion (Law&Crime, ABA Journal) reflected careful legal reasoning rather than ideological rhetoric.
5Intellectual Honesty & Precedent
73%★ earned
“…to stand by things decided.” (stare decisis) — the common-law maxim
No documented inconsistency with precedent or confirmation testimony; candid, detailed opinion-writing.
6Independence from Party
71%★ earned
“The complete independence of the courts of justice is peculiarly essential.” — Hamilton, Federalist No. 78
Vacated a conviction and rebuked the DOJ's own prosecutors, evidencing willingness to rule against the government.
7Personal Integrity
75%★ earned
“The time is always right to do what is right.” — Martin Luther King Jr.
No documented criminal, civil, or corruption matters; personal record appears clean.
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Scores are Independent 2026’s own editorial read against the Seven Articles — ≥60% earns the star. The first two Articles are critical: fail Ethics & Recusal or Fidelity to Democracy and there is no seal, whatever else holds. Each Article carries its founding quote as the yardstick. On bias →