The Full Read · Article by Article
David O. Carter
Central District of California · appt. Clinton
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
Removed from a 2019 homeless-camping case at cities' request per Voice of OC; a routine reassignment, not a documented ethics lapse.
2Fidelity to Democracycritical
74%★ earned
“…a government of laws, and not of men.” — Marshall, Marbury v. Madison
No documented defiance of higher courts; conventional respect for the constitutional order despite high-profile litigation.
3Judicial Temperament
70%★ earned
“Justice must satisfy the appearance of justice.” — Frankfurter
LA alleged in a 2026 filing he read opposition remarks verbatim; a litigant complaint, not an upheld conduct finding.
4Reason, Not Ideology
71%★ earned
“We are not final because we are infallible…” — Robert H. Jackson
Active, hands-on management of homelessness cases has drawn criticism, but no documented finding of ideology over reason.
5Intellectual Honesty & Precedent
72%★ earned
“…to stand by things decided.” (stare decisis) — the common-law maxim
No documented concerns about intellectual honesty or misuse of precedent in his rulings.
6Independence from Party
70%★ earned
“The complete independence of the courts of justice is peculiarly essential.” — Hamilton, Federalist No. 78
No documented evidence of partisan alignment; disputes stem from case management, not party loyalty.
7Personal Integrity
75%★ earned
“The time is always right to do what is right.” — Martin Luther King Jr.
No documented corruption, criminal, or civil integrity matters over a long tenure since 1998.
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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 →