The Full Read · Article by Article
Stephen Joseph Murphy III
Eastern District of Michigan · appt. Bush
5/7
🥉 Fit for the Bench
1Ethics & Recusalcritical
64%★ earned
“No man is allowed to be a judge in his own cause.” — Madison, Federalist No. 10
In US v. Liggins (6th Cir. 2023) he declined to recuse; the appeals court ordered the case reassigned to another judge.
2Fidelity to Democracycritical
74%★ earned
“…a government of laws, and not of men.” — Marshall, Marbury v. Madison
Complied with the appellate reversal in Liggins; no documented defiance of higher courts or election-related concerns.
3Judicial Temperament
50%☆ not yet
“Justice must satisfy the appearance of justice.” — Frankfurter
Sixth Circuit vacated a conviction after his remark, 'This guy looks like a criminal to me,' about a Black defendant (US v. Liggins, 2023).
4Reason, Not Ideology
58%☆ not yet
“We are not final because we are infallible…” — Robert H. Jackson
Appeals court found his appearance-based remark could reflect prejudgment of guilt, raising the spectre of bias (US v. Liggins, 2023).
5Intellectual Honesty & Precedent
70%★ earned
“…to stand by things decided.” (stare decisis) — the common-law maxim
No documented misstatement of precedent apart from the Liggins impartiality finding; otherwise routine record.
6Independence from Party
70%★ earned
“The complete independence of the courts of justice is peculiarly essential.” — Hamilton, Federalist No. 78
No documented party-loyalty concerns; appointing party not counted against him.
7Personal Integrity
73%★ earned
“The time is always right to do what is right.” — Martin Luther King Jr.
No documented corruption or financial-integrity matters; the Liggins issue concerns impartiality, not personal corruption.
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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 →