🎓 Back to Law School — not fit for the bench. Neil Gorsuch holds 6 of seven, but fails a critical Article (Ethics & Recusal). A capable jurist who forgot day one — recusal. Back to school for the ethics module.
“No man is allowed to be a judge in his own cause.” — Madison, Federalist No. 10
CNN reported he sold Colorado property nine days after confirmation to a Greenberg Traurig CEO without disclosing the buyer's identity, though the sale itself was reported.
60
2Fidelity to Democracycritical
75%★ earned
“…a government of laws, and not of men.” — Marshall, Marbury v. Madison
No conduct undermining elections or the constitutional order on record.
60
3Judicial Temperament
72%★ earned
“Justice must satisfy the appearance of justice.” — Frankfurter
Occasionally characterized as preachy in writing but civil toward colleagues and litigants.
60
4Reason, Not Ideology
80%★ earned
“We are not final because we are infallible…” — Robert H. Jackson
Consistent textualist who follows method to outcomes disfavored by his own side, as in Bostock and McGirt.
60
5Intellectual Honesty & Precedent
78%★ earned
“…to stand by things decided.” (stare decisis) — the common-law maxim
Candid and methodologically consistent about his textualist reasoning.
60
6Independence from Party
82%★ earned
“The complete independence of the courts of justice is peculiarly essential.” — Hamilton, Federalist No. 78
Repeatedly crosses the appointing party—Bostock, McGirt, and the 2026 tariff ruling against Trump, who attacked him by name.
60
7Personal Integrity
72%★ earned
“The time is always right to do what is right.” — Martin Luther King Jr.
Clean personal record aside from the property-sale disclosure lapse.
60
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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 →