The Full Read · Article by Article
David Bruce Barlow
District of Utah · appt. Trump
7/7
🥇 Fit for the Bench
1Ethics & Recusalcritical
71%★ earned
“No man is allowed to be a judge in his own cause.” — Madison, Federalist No. 10
As U.S. Attorney his office faced recusal pressure and a judge's ethics criticism; institutional, pre-bench, no personal finding.
2Fidelity to Democracycritical
74%★ earned
“…a government of laws, and not of men.” — Marshall, Marbury v. Madison
No documented defiance of higher courts or election-related concerns; standard constitutional adherence.
3Judicial Temperament
72%★ earned
“Justice must satisfy the appearance of justice.” — Frankfurter
Limited public record; no documented complaints regarding courtroom conduct.
4Reason, Not Ideology
72%★ earned
“We are not final because we are infallible…” — Robert H. Jackson
Limited public record; no documented indication of ideology overriding reasoned judgment.
5Intellectual Honesty & Precedent
72%★ earned
“…to stand by things decided.” (stare decisis) — the common-law maxim
Limited public record; no documented concerns about candor or precedent as a judge.
6Independence from Party
70%★ earned
“The complete independence of the courts of justice is peculiarly essential.” — Hamilton, Federalist No. 78
Trump appointee confirmed 88-4; no documented partisan-decision evidence on the bench.
7Personal Integrity
74%★ earned
“The time is always right to do what is right.” — Martin Luther King Jr.
Pre-bench office criticism by Judge Waddoups noted, but no personal corruption or integrity finding documented.
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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 →