The Full Read · Article by Article
Maria Araujo Kahn
Second Circuit · appt. Biden
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
Confirmed 2023 after service on Connecticut's Supreme Court; no documented disclosure, gift, or recusal problems. Limited public record.
2Fidelity to Democracycritical
73%★ earned
“…a government of laws, and not of men.” — Marshall, Marbury v. Madison
State supreme court and federal appellate service show conventional respect for precedent and the rule of law; nothing adverse documented.
3Judicial Temperament
72%★ earned
“Justice must satisfy the appearance of justice.” — Frankfurter
No documented complaints or reprimands regarding demeanor toward litigants, lawyers, or colleagues.
4Reason, Not Ideology
72%★ earned
“We are not final because we are infallible…” — Robert H. Jackson
Record reflects standard judicial reasoning; no documented result-driven or grievance rhetoric. Limited public record.
5Intellectual Honesty & Precedent
72%★ earned
“…to stand by things decided.” (stare decisis) — the common-law maxim
No documented tension between rulings and confirmation testimony or precedent; thin appellate record so far.
6Independence from Party
68%★ earned
“The complete independence of the courts of justice is peculiarly essential.” — Hamilton, Federalist No. 78
Biden appointee with a short federal tenure and no documented crossings; scored near neutral for limited record.
7Personal Integrity
74%★ earned
“The time is always right to do what is right.” — Martin Luther King Jr.
No documented scandals, criminal matters, or civil findings; personal record appears clean.
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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 →