The Full Read · Article by Article
Leonard Steven Grasz
Eighth Circuit · appt. Trump
6/7
🥈 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 or recusal lapse on the bench; ordinary financial-disclosure record.
2Fidelity to Democracycritical
74%★ earned
“…a government of laws, and not of men.” — Marshall, Marbury v. Madison
No documented involvement in election subversion or defiance of higher courts.
3Judicial Temperament
58%☆ not yet
“Justice must satisfy the appearance of justice.” — Frankfurter
ABA's Standing Committee unanimously rated him 'Not Qualified' in 2017, citing peers who found him 'gratuitously rude' and lacking freedom from bias (ABA Journal).
4Reason, Not Ideology
66%★ earned
“We are not final because we are infallible…” — Robert H. Jackson
The ABA raised concern he could not separate advocate from judge, though this was a pre-confirmation prediction, not documented on-bench conduct.
5Intellectual Honesty & Precedent
67%★ earned
“…to stand by things decided.” (stare decisis) — the common-law maxim
ABA questioned whether he would respect precedent, but the concern was predictive; no documented on-bench candor lapse since confirmation.
6Independence from Party
68%★ earned
“The complete independence of the courts of justice is peculiarly essential.” — Hamilton, Federalist No. 78
Trump appointee with no documented notable partisan crossings; neutral default applied.
7Personal Integrity
74%★ earned
“The time is always right to do what is right.” — Martin Luther King Jr.
No documented criminal, civil, or corruption matter; clean personal record.
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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 →