The Full Read · Article by Article
Todd Michael Hughes
Federal 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
Confirmed 98-0; long DOJ career and Federal Circuit tenure with no documented ethics or recusal issues.
2Fidelity to Democracycritical
74%★ earned
“…a government of laws, and not of men.” — Marshall, Marbury v. Madison
Federal Circuit's technical docket rarely touches elections; no documented conduct against the constitutional order.
3Judicial Temperament
74%★ earned
“Justice must satisfy the appearance of justice.” — Frankfurter
No documented civility complaints; regarded as a measured jurist on a specialized court.
4Reason, Not Ideology
73%★ earned
“We are not final because we are infallible…” — Robert H. Jackson
Patent and government-contract opinions reflect technical legal reasoning, not ideological rhetoric.
5Intellectual Honesty & Precedent
73%★ earned
“…to stand by things decided.” (stare decisis) — the common-law maxim
No documented inconsistency with precedent or confirmation testimony.
6Independence from Party
71%★ earned
“The complete independence of the courts of justice is peculiarly essential.” — Hamilton, Federalist No. 78
Unanimous confirmation and a largely non-partisan docket; no documented reliable-partisan pattern.
7Personal Integrity
76%★ earned
“The time is always right to do what is right.” — Martin Luther King Jr.
No documented corruption, criminal, or civil matters; 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 →