The Full Read · Article by Article
Richard Edward Neel Federico
Tenth 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
Confirmed December 2023; limited public record shows no documented ethics or recusal issue.
2Fidelity to Democracycritical
72%★ earned
“…a government of laws, and not of men.” — Marshall, Marbury v. Madison
Former federal public defender and Navy Reserve military judge; no documented anti-democratic conduct, limited public record.
3Judicial Temperament
70%★ earned
“Justice must satisfy the appearance of justice.” — Frankfurter
Limited public record; no documented complaints or reprimands for abusive conduct.
4Reason, Not Ideology
70%★ earned
“We are not final because we are infallible…” — Robert H. Jackson
Short appellate tenure; no documented pattern of ideological or grievance-driven rhetoric.
5Intellectual Honesty & Precedent
70%★ earned
“…to stand by things decided.” (stare decisis) — the common-law maxim
Limited public record; no documented departure from precedent or confirmation testimony.
6Independence from Party
68%★ earned
“The complete independence of the courts of justice is peculiarly essential.” — Hamilton, Federalist No. 78
Biden appointee with a thin appellate record; scored at the neutral independence default, limited public record.
7Personal Integrity
72%★ earned
“The time is always right to do what is right.” — Martin Luther King Jr.
No documented criminal, civil, or corruption matter; limited public 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 →