Methodology

Every profile starts as a claim and earns its way into the record.

Social posts, news articles, and commentary are useful leads. They do not become verified profile facts until official biographies, court documents, nomination records, dockets, or primary documents support the claim.

Source labels

The label tells readers how much weight to give a claim.

OfficialCourt, FJC, Senate, agency, or other government/institutional source for identity, role, dates, and documents.

Primary documentCourt orders, opinions, filings, disclosures, questionnaires, transcripts, and archived source PDFs.

SecondaryNews, institutional articles, legal profiles, or analysis used for context, never as sole proof for contested claims.

Seed onlySocial posts or tips that explain why we looked, not what we verified.

Open leadPromising but incomplete research item that needs a specific official or primary source before becoming a profile fact.

Seed

Capture the original post, article, docket clue, or public tip as a source trail, not a conclusion.

Resolve

Identify the person, office, court, case, document IDs, and relevant timeline through official or primary records.

Cite

Every meaningful public fact stores source IDs and renders source cards on the public page.

Separate lanes

Verified facts, reported context, criticism, and open leads render as separate sections so readers can see the difference.

Explain

Important rulings get a plain-language explainer with posture, holding, remedy, document links, and why it matters.

Publish

A profile needs source cards, unique title/meta, JSON-LD, sitemap inclusion, internal links, and a visible correction path.

Publish threshold

At least two official or primary sources.
One clear role, office, court, or jurisdiction.
Cited education or career timeline when available.
At least one source-backed ruling, case, vote, action, or public-record issue.
Visible source cards, unique title/meta, JSON-LD, sitemap inclusion, and internal links.
Open research leads must say exactly what source would upgrade the profile.