Stephen Hardwick
@nonfinality.com
Appellate public defender. Poll worker. Peace Corps Tunisia. Low-level zoning chair. Wolverine in Buckeye land. Cyclist. Personal views only. On the payroll of the rain garden interests.
he/him
LOTR/poll worker feeds
https://www.eac.gov/help-america-vote
he/him
LOTR/poll worker feeds
https://www.eac.gov/help-america-vote
Pinned
Stephen Hardwick
@nonfinality.com
· Aug 26
I can’t over-emphasize how critical it is to have competent, rule-following poll workers with back bones. Now more than ever. To my attorney followers, we especially need you. To my non-attorney followers—you too.
Find out how to sign up where you are here: www.eac.gov/help-america...
Find out how to sign up where you are here: www.eac.gov/help-america...
One of the benefits of Peace Corps service is that you’ll almost certainly end up living among people who don’t share the religious beliefs and practices you grew up with. More Americans need experiences like that.
I don't know who needs to know this, but Jesus is not everyone's savior in the United States.
Merry Christian Nationalism Day
December 25, 2025 at 10:56 PM
One of the benefits of Peace Corps service is that you’ll almost certainly end up living among people who don’t share the religious beliefs and practices you grew up with. More Americans need experiences like that.
All I want for Christmas is a President whose phone calls with eight-year-olds aren’t importuning hypotheticals.
December 25, 2025 at 1:23 PM
All I want for Christmas is a President whose phone calls with eight-year-olds aren’t importuning hypotheticals.
A very MAGA Christmas wish
December 24, 2025 at 9:49 PM
A very MAGA Christmas wish
One thing that helped me see (I hope) the Christian ocean I was raised in was living and working in a roughly 99% Muslim country. Not just for the ideas, but for the entire rhythm of life.
As always, very well put. My only amendment would be "to recognize that fact" - many non-Christian people whose frame of reference and worldview is deeply tied to Christian thought and culture simply don't see themselves that way; a fish cannot recognize the ocean!
This is a funny thing to argue about and I think the desire to argue about it comes from the unwillingness of secular people who are culturally Christian to be honest about that fact.
December 24, 2025 at 9:35 PM
One thing that helped me see (I hope) the Christian ocean I was raised in was living and working in a roughly 99% Muslim country. Not just for the ideas, but for the entire rhythm of life.
Two comments:
1) Modern elections have redundancies to redundancies to redundancies…. When there’s a problem with one, the others can be used to get to the truth.
2) A paper-only system with no electronic involvement would be less reliable because there would only be one record of the actual votes.
1) Modern elections have redundancies to redundancies to redundancies…. When there’s a problem with one, the others can be used to get to the truth.
2) A paper-only system with no electronic involvement would be less reliable because there would only be one record of the actual votes.
This post is full of lies. How do I know? I’m a member of the GA State Election Board.
First lie-hundreds of thousands of votes were double counted. No such thing happened at these levels. Instead, election staff failed to sign copies of poll tapes after tabulating early votes-a rule violation.
First lie-hundreds of thousands of votes were double counted. No such thing happened at these levels. Instead, election staff failed to sign copies of poll tapes after tabulating early votes-a rule violation.
Trump shares and endorses a post calling for Georgia GOP Gov. Brian Kemp to be arrested
December 24, 2025 at 1:11 PM
Two comments:
1) Modern elections have redundancies to redundancies to redundancies…. When there’s a problem with one, the others can be used to get to the truth.
2) A paper-only system with no electronic involvement would be less reliable because there would only be one record of the actual votes.
1) Modern elections have redundancies to redundancies to redundancies…. When there’s a problem with one, the others can be used to get to the truth.
2) A paper-only system with no electronic involvement would be less reliable because there would only be one record of the actual votes.
Good morning from Columbus to anyone else in the office today (and the rest of you, too)
December 24, 2025 at 12:59 PM
Good morning from Columbus to anyone else in the office today (and the rest of you, too)
During an extended serious of raids in Columbus by ICE goons, a Facebook positive from our local (and very public) page satirizing the private neighborhood groups—disclosing the names of people who try to post pro-ICE bigotry anonymously:
December 24, 2025 at 2:30 AM
During an extended serious of raids in Columbus by ICE goons, a Facebook positive from our local (and very public) page satirizing the private neighborhood groups—disclosing the names of people who try to post pro-ICE bigotry anonymously:
1. Weiss’s insistence that 60 minutes call legal migrants “illegal aliens” meant no one in that newsroom could trust her good faith.
2. New bosses can get a lot done by power/fear, but w/o respect, smart subordinates who know the work better will at least sometimes succeed in surreptitious rebellion
2. New bosses can get a lot done by power/fear, but w/o respect, smart subordinates who know the work better will at least sometimes succeed in surreptitious rebellion
From the Atlantic attempt to justify Bari Weiss' decision. What's Canadian for "perfidious Albion?"
December 23, 2025 at 9:17 PM
1. Weiss’s insistence that 60 minutes call legal migrants “illegal aliens” meant no one in that newsroom could trust her good faith.
2. New bosses can get a lot done by power/fear, but w/o respect, smart subordinates who know the work better will at least sometimes succeed in surreptitious rebellion
2. New bosses can get a lot done by power/fear, but w/o respect, smart subordinates who know the work better will at least sometimes succeed in surreptitious rebellion
Motion To File Brief Instanter Because Bari Weiss Spiked It And I Had To Sneak It Through Canada First
December 23, 2025 at 5:14 PM
Motion To File Brief Instanter Because Bari Weiss Spiked It And I Had To Sneak It Through Canada First
Redaction “fail.” Hoping this is malicious compliance by one of the few left at DOJ with a conscience.
Ok. Now had a chance to check and, well, at least some docs do appear to be straight up classic redaction fail. And there are some *interesting* bits here.
www.justice.gov/multimedia/C...
www.justice.gov/multimedia/C...
December 23, 2025 at 11:46 AM
Redaction “fail.” Hoping this is malicious compliance by one of the few left at DOJ with a conscience.
The ICE attack in Columbus makes it time to bring back my very privileged story story of being an undocumented immigrant.
Reminds me that I was an undocumented immigrant for a few weeks, and that the US Government insisted that we Peace Corps Volunteers lie on Tunisian immigration forms by saying, upon entry, that the purpose of our visit was “tourist.” 1/
December 22, 2025 at 3:06 AM
The ICE attack in Columbus makes it time to bring back my very privileged story story of being an undocumented immigrant.
Seriously, why do so many of the Facebook ICE bootlickers call themselves “digital creators”?
Is that just another way if saying “terminally online wannabe”?
Are these people paid by Russia or Trump or someone do swarm local social media when the topic of ICE comes up?
Is that just another way if saying “terminally online wannabe”?
Are these people paid by Russia or Trump or someone do swarm local social media when the topic of ICE comes up?
December 22, 2025 at 12:19 AM
Seriously, why do so many of the Facebook ICE bootlickers call themselves “digital creators”?
Is that just another way if saying “terminally online wannabe”?
Are these people paid by Russia or Trump or someone do swarm local social media when the topic of ICE comes up?
Is that just another way if saying “terminally online wannabe”?
Are these people paid by Russia or Trump or someone do swarm local social media when the topic of ICE comes up?
One non-sarcastically delightful part of our neighborhood Facebook groups—someone posts a photo of this yellow cat explaining that a sweet cat has found their porch & they want to help it find home—followed by a chorus of comments shoutin: “That’s Joe! Yes, he’s a sweet guy. And yes, he’s fine.”
December 21, 2025 at 11:36 PM
One non-sarcastically delightful part of our neighborhood Facebook groups—someone posts a photo of this yellow cat explaining that a sweet cat has found their porch & they want to help it find home—followed by a chorus of comments shoutin: “That’s Joe! Yes, he’s a sweet guy. And yes, he’s fine.”
Local Colunbus, Ohio bike shop puts up a post saying that ICE isn’t welcome in its store.
Some dude in Texas objects.
Some dude in Texas objects.
December 21, 2025 at 7:40 PM
Local Colunbus, Ohio bike shop puts up a post saying that ICE isn’t welcome in its store.
Some dude in Texas objects.
Some dude in Texas objects.
This thread about relying on citations of others reminds me that lawyers can mess up by relying on the work of even seasoned lawyers. Here, attys who routinely respond to public records requests routinely made an objectively wrong argument. Ohio SC Justice DeWine called them on it.
Link in next post
Link in next post
December 21, 2025 at 5:53 PM
This thread about relying on citations of others reminds me that lawyers can mess up by relying on the work of even seasoned lawyers. Here, attys who routinely respond to public records requests routinely made an objectively wrong argument. Ohio SC Justice DeWine called them on it.
Link in next post
Link in next post
Why do so many ignorant bigots on Facebook describe themselves as “digital creators”? ICE goons are in Columbus, so I’ve been blocking a ton of people who show up in comments. A weirdly large number of profiles of the bigots include the words “digital creator.”
December 21, 2025 at 1:45 PM
Why do so many ignorant bigots on Facebook describe themselves as “digital creators”? ICE goons are in Columbus, so I’ve been blocking a ton of people who show up in comments. A weirdly large number of profiles of the bigots include the words “digital creator.”
An ethics primer on just about everything an attorney can do wrong when negotiating for a non-disclosure agreement, including a penalty if the victim didn’t ask the prosecutors to drop criminal charges. The attorney ended up with a minimum 6 month suspension.
(Link card has links to documents & OA)
(Link card has links to documents & OA)
Attorney Suspended for Attempting To Thwart Prosecution of Client Who Assaulted Woman
www.courtnewsohio.gov
December 19, 2025 at 7:12 PM
An ethics primer on just about everything an attorney can do wrong when negotiating for a non-disclosure agreement, including a penalty if the victim didn’t ask the prosecutors to drop criminal charges. The attorney ended up with a minimum 6 month suspension.
(Link card has links to documents & OA)
(Link card has links to documents & OA)
We should stop calling this “gerrymanders” and come up with something based on John Roberts’s name.
“I Drove 700 Miles Through California’s Absurd New Congressional District” electionlawblog.org?p=153586
"I Drove 700 Miles Through California’s Absurd New Congressional District" #ELB
Politico: Just a few weeks earlier, this county, a paradisical, mostly suburban community sitting across the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco, voted over 80 percent to support Proposition 50, a p...
electionlawblog.org
December 19, 2025 at 5:40 PM
We should stop calling this “gerrymanders” and come up with something based on John Roberts’s name.
SCOO ≠ SCOTUS:
The 12/17/25 memo opposing the amicus Ohio AG’s request to split Ohio Supreme Court oral argument time with a party says that the AG’s “coordination” with a party is an “irregularit[y].” But unlike in SCOTUS, there’s nothing wrong with amici coordinating with a party in Ohio.
The 12/17/25 memo opposing the amicus Ohio AG’s request to split Ohio Supreme Court oral argument time with a party says that the AG’s “coordination” with a party is an “irregularit[y].” But unlike in SCOTUS, there’s nothing wrong with amici coordinating with a party in Ohio.
December 18, 2025 at 9:53 PM
SCOO ≠ SCOTUS:
The 12/17/25 memo opposing the amicus Ohio AG’s request to split Ohio Supreme Court oral argument time with a party says that the AG’s “coordination” with a party is an “irregularit[y].” But unlike in SCOTUS, there’s nothing wrong with amici coordinating with a party in Ohio.
The 12/17/25 memo opposing the amicus Ohio AG’s request to split Ohio Supreme Court oral argument time with a party says that the AG’s “coordination” with a party is an “irregularit[y].” But unlike in SCOTUS, there’s nothing wrong with amici coordinating with a party in Ohio.
When I see medical articles like this, there’s no way to weigh the credibility of the “experts “ cited. These could be the best in their field or disrespected quacks. But we now have a criterion that could help with that—journalists should tell us what each quoted doctor thinks about RFKjr.
How Long Can You Stay on Antidepressants?
www.nytimes.com
December 17, 2025 at 2:39 AM
When I see medical articles like this, there’s no way to weigh the credibility of the “experts “ cited. These could be the best in their field or disrespected quacks. But we now have a criterion that could help with that—journalists should tell us what each quoted doctor thinks about RFKjr.
This is what happens when one of a city’s advisory committees fights a unanimous city council pushing for something no other neighborhood gets. With a unanimous vote, if the legislation has the right language, it becomes effective immediately and is not subject to referendum.
December 16, 2025 at 2:51 AM
This is what happens when one of a city’s advisory committees fights a unanimous city council pushing for something no other neighborhood gets. With a unanimous vote, if the legislation has the right language, it becomes effective immediately and is not subject to referendum.
Lawprofblawg jokes, but the only upside of this bizarre rant is that it might give employers who want it more cover not to punish off-work employee speech.
It's important to remember that it is okay that he says this because he's not an employee of a university.
#Satire
#Satire
Trump on Rob Reiner: He was a deranged person… Trump derangement syndrome. I was not a fan. I thought he was very bad for our country.
December 15, 2025 at 11:22 PM
Lawprofblawg jokes, but the only upside of this bizarre rant is that it might give employers who want it more cover not to punish off-work employee speech.
One decision I’m glad isn’t my responsibility—deciding when to cancel school due to cold. The same kids who face the biggest challenges getting to school on the cold also face challenges when deprived of a safe, warm place to be during day & two hot meals. So no complaints from me either way.
December 15, 2025 at 4:38 AM
One decision I’m glad isn’t my responsibility—deciding when to cancel school due to cold. The same kids who face the biggest challenges getting to school on the cold also face challenges when deprived of a safe, warm place to be during day & two hot meals. So no complaints from me either way.
Many don’t under just how vulnerable people with even very strong affirmative defenses are in the criminal legal system.
Another example is life-of-the-“mother” affirmative defenses to abortion charges. A doctor may need to go through arrest & trial before getting to argue even a winning defense.
Another example is life-of-the-“mother” affirmative defenses to abortion charges. A doctor may need to go through arrest & trial before getting to argue even a winning defense.
(I'm vaguely aware that some SYG states have weird procedural rules about when a prosecutor needs prior judicial permission to bring a charge and overcome a presumption of self defense, but I have zero experience with those regimes on paper or in practice so I'm not personally giving them weight)
December 15, 2025 at 2:27 AM
Many don’t under just how vulnerable people with even very strong affirmative defenses are in the criminal legal system.
Another example is life-of-the-“mother” affirmative defenses to abortion charges. A doctor may need to go through arrest & trial before getting to argue even a winning defense.
Another example is life-of-the-“mother” affirmative defenses to abortion charges. A doctor may need to go through arrest & trial before getting to argue even a winning defense.