The Full Read · Article by Article
Frank Hoover Easterbrook
Seventh Circuit · appt. Reagan
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 violation or recusal failure; no upheld judicial-conduct complaint in the public record.
2Fidelity to Democracycritical
74%★ earned
“…a government of laws, and not of men.” — Marshall, Marbury v. Madison
Decades of opinions operate squarely within the appellate order; no documented defiance of higher courts.
3Judicial Temperament
64%★ earned
“Justice must satisfy the appearance of justice.” — Frankfurter
A 1994 Chicago Council of Lawyers evaluation documented repeated criticism that he was 'extremely rude' to attorneys at oral argument.
4Reason, Not Ideology
71%★ earned
“We are not final because we are infallible…” — Robert H. Jackson
Influential, rigorous jurist; some rulings blunt in tone, but reasoning is legal rather than grievance-driven.
5Intellectual Honesty & Precedent
66%★ earned
“…to stand by things decided.” (stare decisis) — the common-law maxim
A 2017 Injustice Watch investigation documented a pattern of misstated facts in his opinions, a citable candor concern.
6Independence from Party
71%★ earned
“The complete independence of the courts of justice is peculiarly essential.” — Hamilton, Federalist No. 78
Independent-minded scholar-judge known for idiosyncratic positions, not lockstep partisanship; credited above neutral.
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; long personal record without citable scandal.
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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 →