INDEPENDENT2026

The Full Read · Article by Article

Raymond Joseph Lohier Jr.

Second Circuit · appt. Obama
7/7
🥇 Fit for the Bench
1Ethics & Recusalcritical
73%★ earned
“No man is allowed to be a judge in his own cause.” — Madison, Federalist No. 10
Former securities-fraud prosecutor now Second Circuit chief judge with no documented disclosure or recusal lapse.
60
2Fidelity to Democracycritical
74%★ earned
“…a government of laws, and not of men.” — Marshall, Marbury v. Madison
No documented defiance of precedent or the constitutional order in his record since 2010.
60
3Judicial Temperament
73%★ earned
“Justice must satisfy the appearance of justice.” — Frankfurter
Known for a Madison Lecture advocating empathetic judging; no reported civility complaints.
60
4Reason, Not Ideology
72%★ earned
“We are not final because we are infallible…” — Robert H. Jackson
No documented sign of grievance- or result-driven rhetoric in his opinions.
60
5Intellectual Honesty & Precedent
72%★ earned
“…to stand by things decided.” (stare decisis) — the common-law maxim
No documented inconsistency with confirmation testimony or disregard of stare decisis.
60
6Independence from Party
69%★ earned
“The complete independence of the courts of justice is peculiarly essential.” — Hamilton, Federalist No. 78
Long tenure with no documented pattern of reliable partisanship; a career prosecutor turned mainstream jurist.
60
7Personal Integrity
75%★ earned
“The time is always right to do what is right.” — Martin Luther King Jr.
No documented personal criminal, civil, or corruption matter in the public record.
60
Challenge this review

This review is offered freely and openly to correction. A challenge is considered only when it states a specific reason and links to sources that substantiate it — an assertion without evidence is not reviewed.

Are you Raymond Joseph Lohier Jr.? An official named in a review may answer it by phone rather than in writing. Confirm it's you and we'll arrange a call.

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 →

← All reviews