The Full Read · Article by Article
Christopher Reid Cooper
District of Columbia · appt. Obama
7/7
🥇 Fit for the Bench
1Ethics & Recusalcritical
69%★ earned
“No man is allowed to be a judge in his own cause.” — Madison, Federalist No. 10
The group CASA filed a 2025 misconduct complaint seeking his recusal in the Kennedy Center case over his wife's clients; complaint filed, not adjudicated.
2Fidelity to Democracycritical
74%★ earned
“…a government of laws, and not of men.” — Marshall, Marbury v. Madison
No documented conduct indicating disregard for elections, precedent, or the constitutional order.
3Judicial Temperament
72%★ earned
“Justice must satisfy the appearance of justice.” — Frankfurter
No documented complaints of incivility toward litigants or counsel.
4Reason, Not Ideology
72%★ earned
“We are not final because we are infallible…” — Robert H. Jackson
No documented pattern of ideology displacing reasoning.
5Intellectual Honesty & Precedent
72%★ earned
“…to stand by things decided.” (stare decisis) — the common-law maxim
No documented instances of misstating precedent or the record.
6Independence from Party
69%★ earned
“The complete independence of the courts of justice is peculiarly essential.” — Hamilton, Federalist No. 78
The pending recusal complaint alleges appearance concerns tied to his spouse; unadjudicated, and appointing party is not counted.
7Personal Integrity
74%★ earned
“The time is always right to do what is right.” — Martin Luther King Jr.
No credible documented corruption, criminal, or civil-misconduct matter.
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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 →