The Full Read · Article by Article
Kevin Gafford Ritz
Sixth Circuit · appt. Biden
7/7
🥇 Fit for the Bench
1Ethics & Recusalcritical
70%★ earned
“No man is allowed to be a judge in his own cause.” — Madison, Federalist No. 10
GOP senators alleged misconduct in a 16-year-old plea matter; Ritz denied it, evidence was thin, ABA rated him well qualified.
2Fidelity to Democracycritical
74%★ earned
“…a government of laws, and not of men.” — Marshall, Marbury v. Madison
No documented issues with rule of law or precedent; brief 2024 tenure shows conventional appellate practice.
3Judicial Temperament
72%★ earned
“Justice must satisfy the appearance of justice.” — Frankfurter
No documented temperament complaints; short tenure with limited public record on courtroom conduct.
4Reason, Not Ideology
72%★ earned
“We are not final because we are infallible…” — Robert H. Jackson
Limited public record on the bench; no documented pattern of result-driven or grievance rhetoric.
5Intellectual Honesty & Precedent
71%★ earned
“…to stand by things decided.” (stare decisis) — the common-law maxim
Denied confirmation allegations under oath; no documented candor problems, though public record remains thin.
6Independence from Party
68%★ earned
“The complete independence of the courts of justice is peculiarly essential.” — Hamilton, Federalist No. 78
Biden appointee with brief tenure; too little record to assess crossings, scored neutrally.
7Personal Integrity
72%★ earned
“The time is always right to do what is right.” — Martin Luther King Jr.
The disputed plea-handling allegation was denied and unsubstantiated; no citable finding against him, so scored near neutral.
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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 →