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
I was only once praised in an opinion, and it was when I was a fairly young lawyer, so maybe the UK practice is not so different. Judicial accolades mean so much more for newer lawyers than for more experienced ones.
November 12, 2025 at 11:50 AM
I was only once praised in an opinion, and it was when I was a fairly young lawyer, so maybe the UK practice is not so different. Judicial accolades mean so much more for newer lawyers than for more experienced ones.
Thanks. Is it normal for judges to genuinely praise specific parts of specific lawyers’ work?
In the US, praise like this is usually either given out as a matter of course (sometimes, kindly, for court-appointed counsel), or as a prelude to ruling against the praised lawyer’s client.
In the US, praise like this is usually either given out as a matter of course (sometimes, kindly, for court-appointed counsel), or as a prelude to ruling against the praised lawyer’s client.
![1. I repeat my thanks for the assistance of all counsel (and Janes Solicitors, also acting pro bono for Ms Buzzard Quashie) in this matter, but in particular Ms Elves. Not only has she been appearing pro bono, as has Mr Leonard KC, but her diligence and thoroughness in interrogating the 1,200 pages of audit logs has been instrumental in the factual developments identified in Section C of the judgment above.
Lord Justice Coulson:
2. I agree that this appeal should be allowed, for all the reasons set out by my Lord, Lord Justice Fraser. The significant contributions of Ms Elves and Mr Gold to this outcome were freely acknowledged by Mr Leonard KC, and I am only too happy to add my own commendation of their hard work and perseverance.
Lady Justice Asplin:
03. I too would allow the appeal on all six grounds, for the reasons set out by Lord Justice Fraser. I also add my thanks to counsel and note Ms Buzzard Quashie' perseverance and dignity in the face of the Northamptonshire police's failure to produce the video footage of her arrest some four years ago.
Note 1 By section 33(1) Crime and Courts Act 2013, although conduct that would have fallen into this class of conduct could still be contempt of court more generally [Back]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:csutosnyppard6uedwwwegww/bafkreiclck6llwmsgg4pxg3upbvyzzr4kztount6i3s2c3cybtet4ws4n4@jpeg)
November 12, 2025 at 11:21 AM
Thanks. Is it normal for judges to genuinely praise specific parts of specific lawyers’ work?
In the US, praise like this is usually either given out as a matter of course (sometimes, kindly, for court-appointed counsel), or as a prelude to ruling against the praised lawyer’s client.
In the US, praise like this is usually either given out as a matter of course (sometimes, kindly, for court-appointed counsel), or as a prelude to ruling against the praised lawyer’s client.
Nice try. Trump would never get a crate of anything for the comfort or safety of anyone but himself.
November 11, 2025 at 9:54 PM
Nice try. Trump would never get a crate of anything for the comfort or safety of anyone but himself.
Makes sense. If there’s anything 22 year-olds consistently identify with, it’s retirement.
November 11, 2025 at 3:49 AM
Makes sense. If there’s anything 22 year-olds consistently identify with, it’s retirement.
If we can’t have an edit tool, it would be helpful to have a label we could put on our own posts that says something like, “Correction in reply”
November 9, 2025 at 6:17 PM
If we can’t have an edit tool, it would be helpful to have a label we could put on our own posts that says something like, “Correction in reply”
Yep. And it’s another reason the NYT should be more careful about mentioning allegations, even if they shoot them down.
November 9, 2025 at 4:32 PM
Yep. And it’s another reason the NYT should be more careful about mentioning allegations, even if they shoot them down.
Another more fun example: When we say, “Critics say JD Vance has been having sex with couches and Charlie Kirk’s wife, but there’s no evidence to support to either accusations,” we’re reinforcing the idea that it might be true that JD Vance has been having sex with couches and Charlie Kirk’s wife.
November 9, 2025 at 4:16 PM
Another more fun example: When we say, “Critics say JD Vance has been having sex with couches and Charlie Kirk’s wife, but there’s no evidence to support to either accusations,” we’re reinforcing the idea that it might be true that JD Vance has been having sex with couches and Charlie Kirk’s wife.
I still don’t see a better way when it comes to government restrictions on speech, but we aren’t sufficiently protective with non-governmental responses, like private boycotts and personal stigma.
November 9, 2025 at 3:44 PM
I still don’t see a better way when it comes to government restrictions on speech, but we aren’t sufficiently protective with non-governmental responses, like private boycotts and personal stigma.
And again, the criticisms of him about this are generally unfair, but I understand where they come from.
November 9, 2025 at 2:41 PM
And again, the criticisms of him about this are generally unfair, but I understand where they come from.
I haven’t worked on @aricohn.com’s scale, but I have done both legal and volunteer community work that makes some hurt people mad enough to very strongly (and IMO unfairly) criticize me. I wish I could say I’ve always been able to just let it slide, but I try.
November 9, 2025 at 2:40 PM
I haven’t worked on @aricohn.com’s scale, but I have done both legal and volunteer community work that makes some hurt people mad enough to very strongly (and IMO unfairly) criticize me. I wish I could say I’ve always been able to just let it slide, but I try.
By comparison, yes, Nazis had the legal right to march in Skokie. The ACLU was right to defend it. But we shouldn’t expect concentration camp survivors to celebrate the legal win, and I wouldn’t get judgmental if they strongly criticized the ACLU for its work.
November 9, 2025 at 2:35 PM
By comparison, yes, Nazis had the legal right to march in Skokie. The ACLU was right to defend it. But we shouldn’t expect concentration camp survivors to celebrate the legal win, and I wouldn’t get judgmental if they strongly criticized the ACLU for its work.
I get that the people criticizing you haven’t read your brief & are mis-characterizing your position. Granted. In mitigation (not excuse), all I ask is that before making fun of your critics, your followers should remember that trans people are under attack on so many fronts it’s legit frightening.
November 9, 2025 at 2:30 PM
I get that the people criticizing you haven’t read your brief & are mis-characterizing your position. Granted. In mitigation (not excuse), all I ask is that before making fun of your critics, your followers should remember that trans people are under attack on so many fronts it’s legit frightening.
Is there any generation that wants this?
-A Gen-Xer
-A Gen-Xer
November 9, 2025 at 2:19 AM
Is there any generation that wants this?
-A Gen-Xer
-A Gen-Xer
You seem intrigued enough to find the answer.
November 8, 2025 at 10:00 PM
You seem intrigued enough to find the answer.
Another consideration: Which class has the better teacher? You’ll learn a ton of useful stuff from a good teacher, regardless of subject matter. I learned more that helps me as an appellate public defender from civ pro, insurance law, and comm trans than from either of the crim pro classes I took.
November 8, 2025 at 9:35 PM
Another consideration: Which class has the better teacher? You’ll learn a ton of useful stuff from a good teacher, regardless of subject matter. I learned more that helps me as an appellate public defender from civ pro, insurance law, and comm trans than from either of the crim pro classes I took.
Consideration: You can go to CLEs on depositions, but law school is likely your last chance to take classes about the general underpinnings of the law.
(I’ve done only a little civil practice decades ago, so take this with a grain of salt.)
(I’ve done only a little civil practice decades ago, so take this with a grain of salt.)
November 8, 2025 at 8:21 PM
Consideration: You can go to CLEs on depositions, but law school is likely your last chance to take classes about the general underpinnings of the law.
(I’ve done only a little civil practice decades ago, so take this with a grain of salt.)
(I’ve done only a little civil practice decades ago, so take this with a grain of salt.)
…or are considered creepy for insisting on knowing whether a specific child has one.
November 7, 2025 at 10:13 PM
…or are considered creepy for insisting on knowing whether a specific child has one.
(I’m not arguing with you about the very low error rate of the current system.)
November 7, 2025 at 9:31 PM
(I’m not arguing with you about the very low error rate of the current system.)
This is why ballot markers that print voter-readable votes make even more sense for ranked-choice elections. They can make over votes impossible.
FWIW, I’m not convinced that ranked-choice voting is better than the regular system, but it’s certainly not some big conspiracy. It’s a worthy experiment
FWIW, I’m not convinced that ranked-choice voting is better than the regular system, but it’s certainly not some big conspiracy. It’s a worthy experiment
November 7, 2025 at 9:20 PM
This is why ballot markers that print voter-readable votes make even more sense for ranked-choice elections. They can make over votes impossible.
FWIW, I’m not convinced that ranked-choice voting is better than the regular system, but it’s certainly not some big conspiracy. It’s a worthy experiment
FWIW, I’m not convinced that ranked-choice voting is better than the regular system, but it’s certainly not some big conspiracy. It’s a worthy experiment
They put hard copies of your notices in a special manila folder.
November 7, 2025 at 9:15 PM
They put hard copies of your notices in a special manila folder.