The Full Read · Article by Article
Carl E. Stewart
Fifth Circuit · appt. Clinton
7/7
🥇 Fit for the Bench
1Ethics & Recusalcritical
73%★ earned
“No man is allowed to be a judge in his own cause.” — Madison, Federalist No. 10
No documented disclosure, gift, or recusal lapse appears across his long tenure and chief-judgeship.
2Fidelity to Democracycritical
75%★ earned
“…a government of laws, and not of men.” — Marshall, Marbury v. Madison
As chief judge (2012-2019) he administered the circuit routinely; nothing documented shows disregard for rule of law.
3Judicial Temperament
74%★ earned
“Justice must satisfy the appearance of justice.” — Frankfurter
Widely regarded as gracious and even-handed; no documented complaints of incivility exist.
4Reason, Not Ideology
73%★ earned
“We are not final because we are infallible…” — Robert H. Jackson
His opinions reflect conventional legal analysis; no documented pattern of result-driven rhetoric.
5Intellectual Honesty & Precedent
73%★ earned
“…to stand by things decided.” (stare decisis) — the common-law maxim
No documented candor problems or departures from stated commitments appear in the record.
6Independence from Party
70%★ earned
“The complete independence of the courts of justice is peculiarly essential.” — Hamilton, Federalist No. 78
A Clinton appointee with a mainstream record; no strongly documented cross-ideological signal.
7Personal Integrity
76%★ earned
“The time is always right to do what is right.” — Martin Luther King Jr.
No documented corruption, criminal matter, or personal-conduct scandal is on the citable record.
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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 →