The Full Read · Article by Article
Thomas Michael Hardiman
Third Circuit · appt. Bush
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
No documented disclosure or recusal lapse; clean financial-disclosure record.
2Fidelity to Democracycritical
74%★ earned
“…a government of laws, and not of men.” — Marshall, Marbury v. Madison
No documented involvement in election subversion or defiance of higher courts.
3Judicial Temperament
73%★ earned
“Justice must satisfy the appearance of justice.” — Frankfurter
No documented temperament complaints; unanimously confirmed to the Third Circuit in 2007 (SCOTUSblog).
4Reason, Not Ideology
72%★ earned
“We are not final because we are infallible…” — Robert H. Jackson
No documented grievance-driven rhetoric; described by observers as a conservative who is 'hardly knee-jerk' (SCOTUSblog).
5Intellectual Honesty & Precedent
73%★ earned
“…to stand by things decided.” (stare decisis) — the common-law maxim
No documented inconsistency with precedent or confirmation testimony; neutral-positive given unanimous confirmation.
6Independence from Party
70%★ earned
“The complete independence of the courts of justice is peculiarly essential.” — Hamilton, Federalist No. 78
Bush appointee twice on Trump's SCOTUS shortlist; commentators noted a non-reflexive record, a modest independence signal.
7Personal Integrity
75%★ earned
“The time is always right to do what is right.” — Martin Luther King Jr.
No documented criminal, civil, or corruption matter; clean personal 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 →