The Full Read · Article by Article
Richard G. Seeborg
Northern District of California · appt. Obama
7/7
🥇 Fit for the Bench
1Ethics & Recusalcritical
72%★ earned
“No man is allowed to be a judge in his own cause.” — Madison, Federalist No. 10
Chief Judge of the Northern District of California with no documented disclosure, gift, or recusal problems.
2Fidelity to Democracycritical
75%★ earned
“…a government of laws, and not of men.” — Marshall, Marbury v. Madison
Presided over high-profile matters with routine adherence to precedent and higher-court authority; no documented defiance.
3Judicial Temperament
73%★ earned
“Justice must satisfy the appearance of justice.” — Frankfurter
Elevation to chief judge reflects peer regard; no documented civility complaints.
4Reason, Not Ideology
73%★ earned
“We are not final because we are infallible…” — Robert H. Jackson
Record reflects careful case-by-case reasoning with no evidence of ideological decision-making.
5Intellectual Honesty & Precedent
73%★ earned
“…to stand by things decided.” (stare decisis) — the common-law maxim
No documented instances of mishandling precedent or intellectual dishonesty.
6Independence from Party
71%★ earned
“The complete independence of the courts of justice is peculiarly essential.” — Hamilton, Federalist No. 78
Obama appointee with no documented partisan conduct; neutral under party-blind rules.
7Personal Integrity
75%★ earned
“The time is always right to do what is right.” — Martin Luther King Jr.
No documented corruption, criminal, or civil integrity matters.
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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 →