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
Trump Regrets Not Seizing Voting Machines After 2020 Election
www.nytimes.com
If you can serve as a poll worker, now is the time. The US has numerous, redundant checks to prevent vote-count fraud, but competent, honest poll workers are critical. If you want to make sure your small part of the election is run by the book, learn how to sign up here: www.eac.gov/help-america...
Ohio Republican gubernatorial candidate Ramaswamy figures out how to encourage huge numbers of students to sit through the pledge of allegiance
As Ohio Republican gubernatorial candidate floats a daily pledge allegiance in schools, what is the current law about the pledge?
Can Ohio schools force students say the pledge of allegiance? What the law says
As Ohio Republican gubernatorial candidate floats a daily pledge allegiance in schools, what is the current law about the pledge?
bit.ly
January 16, 2026 at 1:09 AM
Ohio Republican gubernatorial candidate Ramaswamy figures out how to encourage huge numbers of students to sit through the pledge of allegiance
Ohio government already uses its power to regularly inspect child care facilities, but I’d rather have our legislators spend their time on useless, redundant bills than evil ones that directly cause real harm.
Amid viral videos claiming widespread childcare fraud elsewhere, Ohio lawmakers want to empower the Ohio attorney general to crack down on bad actors.
Ohio lawmakers want AG to have power to crack down on childcare fraud
Amid viral videos claiming widespread childcare fraud elsewhere, Ohio lawmakers want to empower the Ohio attorney general to crack down on bad actors.
bit.ly
January 16, 2026 at 1:07 AM
Ohio government already uses its power to regularly inspect child care facilities, but I’d rather have our legislators spend their time on useless, redundant bills than evil ones that directly cause real harm.
One sentence explains why we shouldn’t take David Plouffe’s NYT op/ed seriously. He’s writing in the freakin’ New York Times, and he asks ChatCPT what to say. And no, I won’t link to his AI drivel.
January 16, 2026 at 12:59 AM
One sentence explains why we shouldn’t take David Plouffe’s NYT op/ed seriously. He’s writing in the freakin’ New York Times, and he asks ChatCPT what to say. And no, I won’t link to his AI drivel.
Congratulations on the win today!
🚨Today, we were in federal court delivering oral argument in our case challenging the Ohio State University’s expulsion of a student for engaging in protected political speech, violating his free speech & due process rights.
January 15, 2026 at 12:35 AM
Congratulations on the win today!
Here are the four most recent posts on the weirdness of Nelsonville, Ohio, which I’ve been posting about since before the November election. I link to two videos in the replies because I think they’re not subscriber-only. One of them is “Nelsonville Mayor Asks for Keys”
January 15, 2026 at 12:25 AM
Here are the four most recent posts on the weirdness of Nelsonville, Ohio, which I’ve been posting about since before the November election. I link to two videos in the replies because I think they’re not subscriber-only. One of them is “Nelsonville Mayor Asks for Keys”
You don’t have to agree with this student to know that a state university shouldn’t have expelled her for what she said. Congrats to the student and the Ohio ACLU.
www.dispatch.com/story/news/e...
www.dispatch.com/story/news/e...
January 15, 2026 at 12:17 AM
You don’t have to agree with this student to know that a state university shouldn’t have expelled her for what she said. Congrats to the student and the Ohio ACLU.
www.dispatch.com/story/news/e...
www.dispatch.com/story/news/e...
Appellate Lawyer of the Day: Legal Aid does good work. Here, a tenant pro se filed a lot of sovereign citizen junk pro se. Legal Aid got involved (at what point, I don’t know) and negotiated a result that gives her a shot at staying in the apartment. They are dismissing the writ.
January 14, 2026 at 12:30 AM
Appellate Lawyer of the Day: Legal Aid does good work. Here, a tenant pro se filed a lot of sovereign citizen junk pro se. Legal Aid got involved (at what point, I don’t know) and negotiated a result that gives her a shot at staying in the apartment. They are dismissing the writ.
Got tested today and discovered my childhood measles vaccine (possibly only in the 1970s, possibly boosted by one of the gazillion shots I got for the Peace Corps) is still keeping my antibodies high! Wahoo!
a sign that says v is for vaccinated
Alt: a sign that says v is for vaccinated. Two fingers sticking up in the v for victory motif
media.tenor.com
January 13, 2026 at 11:11 PM
Got tested today and discovered my childhood measles vaccine (possibly only in the 1970s, possibly boosted by one of the gazillion shots I got for the Peace Corps) is still keeping my antibodies high! Wahoo!
Something to think about before bringing SA into a conversation where it isn’t already (or even where it already is). I’m not saying cover this up. Just write your posts knowing that victims/survivors could read them.
One, however, was really easy to both scope and populate, so I'm calling it ready for prime time: bsky.app/profile/did:... ("I Do Not Have The Epstein Files In My Sock Drawer").
January 13, 2026 at 10:59 PM
Something to think about before bringing SA into a conversation where it isn’t already (or even where it already is). I’m not saying cover this up. Just write your posts knowing that victims/survivors could read them.
Anyone interested in state constitutional law should pay attention to this Ohio case about the authority of local government to inspect rental properties. The landlords’ supposed concern for the rights of renters is cynical, but the issue is real.
Link card has oral argument w/ link to docket.
Link card has oral argument w/ link to docket.
January 13, 2026 at 3:06 PM
Anyone interested in state constitutional law should pay attention to this Ohio case about the authority of local government to inspect rental properties. The landlords’ supposed concern for the rights of renters is cynical, but the issue is real.
Link card has oral argument w/ link to docket.
Link card has oral argument w/ link to docket.
This is weird & contrary to the general rule of no public fights among city elected officials:
1—Mayor cuts funding for program that gives Columbus School grads free community college
2—Council President Hardin angrily restores funding
3—Mayor claims he was just tying to make Hardin look good
1—Mayor cuts funding for program that gives Columbus School grads free community college
2—Council President Hardin angrily restores funding
3—Mayor claims he was just tying to make Hardin look good
January 13, 2026 at 12:04 PM
This is weird & contrary to the general rule of no public fights among city elected officials:
1—Mayor cuts funding for program that gives Columbus School grads free community college
2—Council President Hardin angrily restores funding
3—Mayor claims he was just tying to make Hardin look good
1—Mayor cuts funding for program that gives Columbus School grads free community college
2—Council President Hardin angrily restores funding
3—Mayor claims he was just tying to make Hardin look good
This Murderbot exchange could be about ICE:
Gurathin turned to me. "So you don't have a governor module, but we could punish you by looking at you."
I looked at him. "Probably, right up until I remember I have guns built into my arms.”
Gurathin turned to me. "So you don't have a governor module, but we could punish you by looking at you."
I looked at him. "Probably, right up until I remember I have guns built into my arms.”
January 13, 2026 at 12:20 AM
This Murderbot exchange could be about ICE:
Gurathin turned to me. "So you don't have a governor module, but we could punish you by looking at you."
I looked at him. "Probably, right up until I remember I have guns built into my arms.”
Gurathin turned to me. "So you don't have a governor module, but we could punish you by looking at you."
I looked at him. "Probably, right up until I remember I have guns built into my arms.”
When it’s even slightly plausible, “Rule for my client because you’re brilliant and fair” can be one of the most effective arguments a lawyer can make.
For what it's worth, I think that if another plaintiff filed another, identical suit, adding the facts of how these have been happening *and specifically calling them Kavanaugh Stops* ... I think they'd get an injunction sustained at SCOTUS
/5 Third: Lawsuits can be brought against specific law enforcement agencies for specific habitual practices. The very case that led Kavanaugh to endorse the disgraceful “Kavanaugh Stop” was one such case, showing how hard they are — SCOTUS is a race-profiling fan.
January 12, 2026 at 11:49 PM
When it’s even slightly plausible, “Rule for my client because you’re brilliant and fair” can be one of the most effective arguments a lawyer can make.
The best piece of oral argument advice I’ve received in these 30 years? “Your first sentence was brilliant, but then you kept talking.”
(Courtesy of
@powellypowell.bsky.social)
(Courtesy of
@powellypowell.bsky.social)
Thirty years ago today, I started the best possible job for me—an appeals and postconviction public defender, which means I get to help people protect themselves from the government (charges from misdemeanor through capital) by reading, writing, thinking & talking.
January 12, 2026 at 11:46 PM
The best piece of oral argument advice I’ve received in these 30 years? “Your first sentence was brilliant, but then you kept talking.”
(Courtesy of
@powellypowell.bsky.social)
(Courtesy of
@powellypowell.bsky.social)
To fend off an invasion, has Denmark considered inventing its own “Peace Prize” to “award” to Trump?
The scary thing is that they probably have considered it and that it’s still on the table.
(Bonus points if the award has the words “Piece Prize” with a cup held up by very little hands.)
The scary thing is that they probably have considered it and that it’s still on the table.
(Bonus points if the award has the words “Piece Prize” with a cup held up by very little hands.)
a person in a black suit is standing in front of a wall with the word yes written on it .
Alt: Very tiny hands stick out of black sleeves clapping with the word yes written on it.
media.tenor.com
January 12, 2026 at 11:15 PM
To fend off an invasion, has Denmark considered inventing its own “Peace Prize” to “award” to Trump?
The scary thing is that they probably have considered it and that it’s still on the table.
(Bonus points if the award has the words “Piece Prize” with a cup held up by very little hands.)
The scary thing is that they probably have considered it and that it’s still on the table.
(Bonus points if the award has the words “Piece Prize” with a cup held up by very little hands.)
Thirty years ago today, I started the best possible job for me—an appeals and postconviction public defender, which means I get to help people protect themselves from the government (charges from misdemeanor through capital) by reading, writing, thinking & talking.
January 12, 2026 at 1:01 PM
Thirty years ago today, I started the best possible job for me—an appeals and postconviction public defender, which means I get to help people protect themselves from the government (charges from misdemeanor through capital) by reading, writing, thinking & talking.
If you can serve as a poll worker, now is the time. The US has numerous, redundant checks to prevent vote-count fraud, but competent, honest poll workers are critical. If you want to make sure your small part of the election is run by the book, learn how to sign up here: www.eac.gov/help-america...
Trump Regrets Not Seizing Voting Machines After 2020 Election
www.nytimes.com
January 12, 2026 at 2:07 AM
If you can serve as a poll worker, now is the time. The US has numerous, redundant checks to prevent vote-count fraud, but competent, honest poll workers are critical. If you want to make sure your small part of the election is run by the book, learn how to sign up here: www.eac.gov/help-america...
I just learned that there’s a .gripe domain, so I bought the one for my neighborhood. Does this mean I can send cease and desist letters when my neighbors, you know, gripe?
January 12, 2026 at 12:31 AM
I just learned that there’s a .gripe domain, so I bought the one for my neighborhood. Does this mean I can send cease and desist letters when my neighbors, you know, gripe?
A cat who’s least-bad option is her Auxiliary Human
January 11, 2026 at 10:08 PM
A cat who’s least-bad option is her Auxiliary Human
No one will forget this NYT mistake:
January 10, 2026 at 11:26 PM
No one will forget this NYT mistake:
Practicing lawyers take note:
There's nothing I enjoy more than receiving emails from students telling me how they are doing. I received one today that truly made my day.
January 10, 2026 at 10:54 PM
Practicing lawyers take note:
Camcorder advice: Looking for a camcorder for public meetings that's 1) easy to use, 2) has viewfinder, 3) records in a format that makes uploading 2-hour meetings to YouTube practical, & 4) has a mic good for voices 20' away or can connect to one. Budget $100-500, but function has to justify price.
a penguin holds up a sign that says need help
Alt: a penguin holds up a sign that says need help
media.tenor.com
January 10, 2026 at 7:15 PM
Camcorder advice: Looking for a camcorder for public meetings that's 1) easy to use, 2) has viewfinder, 3) records in a format that makes uploading 2-hour meetings to YouTube practical, & 4) has a mic good for voices 20' away or can connect to one. Budget $100-500, but function has to justify price.
Trump’s denial of clean water to part of Colorado because he’s mad at Boebert for criticizing him is literally something Emperor Palpatine did.
January 10, 2026 at 3:02 PM
Trump’s denial of clean water to part of Colorado because he’s mad at Boebert for criticizing him is literally something Emperor Palpatine did.
Voters: Dissolve city gv’t.
City gv’t: We dissolve your dissolving.
Voters: uh uh.
Everyone: 🤷😱
What a mess. Two groups say they’re the legit city council. The Ohio Supreme Court (properly, I believe) declined to resolve the dispute in a narrow ballot-access case.
www.dispatch.com/story/news/s...
City gv’t: We dissolve your dissolving.
Voters: uh uh.
Everyone: 🤷😱
What a mess. Two groups say they’re the legit city council. The Ohio Supreme Court (properly, I believe) declined to resolve the dispute in a narrow ballot-access case.
www.dispatch.com/story/news/s...
January 9, 2026 at 11:43 AM
Voters: Dissolve city gv’t.
City gv’t: We dissolve your dissolving.
Voters: uh uh.
Everyone: 🤷😱
What a mess. Two groups say they’re the legit city council. The Ohio Supreme Court (properly, I believe) declined to resolve the dispute in a narrow ballot-access case.
www.dispatch.com/story/news/s...
City gv’t: We dissolve your dissolving.
Voters: uh uh.
Everyone: 🤷😱
What a mess. Two groups say they’re the legit city council. The Ohio Supreme Court (properly, I believe) declined to resolve the dispute in a narrow ballot-access case.
www.dispatch.com/story/news/s...
How about an #AppellateTwitter throwback post?
“Where do you want to begin?”
This is how the Ohio Supreme Court’s Chief Justice began an attorney’s OA rebuttal time this week. The question had the effect of stopping other justices from determining what might become the only topic of rebuttal.
“Where do you want to begin?”
This is how the Ohio Supreme Court’s Chief Justice began an attorney’s OA rebuttal time this week. The question had the effect of stopping other justices from determining what might become the only topic of rebuttal.
January 8, 2026 at 3:48 PM
How about an #AppellateTwitter throwback post?
“Where do you want to begin?”
This is how the Ohio Supreme Court’s Chief Justice began an attorney’s OA rebuttal time this week. The question had the effect of stopping other justices from determining what might become the only topic of rebuttal.
“Where do you want to begin?”
This is how the Ohio Supreme Court’s Chief Justice began an attorney’s OA rebuttal time this week. The question had the effect of stopping other justices from determining what might become the only topic of rebuttal.