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...
Kind of like a sovereign citizen knows theories no lawyer could ever conceive. Hey. Wait a minute. That’s a legal thing AI could actually do well—sovereign citizen “law.”
I mean a human architect could never *conceive* of such a thing.
December 1, 2025 at 10:05 PM
Kind of like a sovereign citizen knows theories no lawyer could ever conceive. Hey. Wait a minute. That’s a legal thing AI could actually do well—sovereign citizen “law.”
When I taught English in Tunis, the British teachers were happy that they had someone who could refute their students when the students argued, “That’s the American way.”
“We need to decide whether we’re using British or American spelling & punctuation”
“That sounds illegal”
December 1, 2025 at 9:35 PM
When I taught English in Tunis, the British teachers were happy that they had someone who could refute their students when the students argued, “That’s the American way.”
My favorite pie if I could have it again: Decades ago, Mom valiantly tried to make something new—homemade pumpkin pie. She used the wrong kind of pumpkin, tried to mash it by hand, & used the wrong of concentrated milk. It was, um, not tasty. But it gave us a fun memory that has lasted for decades.
OFFICIAL THANKSGIVING PIE RANKINGS
1. I love all of them like my children you wouldn’t ask me to rank my children you ghouls.
1. I love all of them like my children you wouldn’t ask me to rank my children you ghouls.
November 28, 2025 at 5:27 PM
My favorite pie if I could have it again: Decades ago, Mom valiantly tried to make something new—homemade pumpkin pie. She used the wrong kind of pumpkin, tried to mash it by hand, & used the wrong of concentrated milk. It was, um, not tasty. But it gave us a fun memory that has lasted for decades.
For your Thanksgiving viewing pleasure—ten-pound frozen grease balls.
what we don’t have in turkey fryer explosion videos, we make up for with 10-pound grease ball pics.
November 27, 2025 at 3:44 AM
For your Thanksgiving viewing pleasure—ten-pound frozen grease balls.
All the talk of perceived-unfair criticism of attorneys reminds me that even though I’ve had a three-decade career in criminal defense, BY FAR the work that’s spawned the most vitriol & threats* toward me is my work on school facilities committees.
A distant second is local zoning committee work.
A distant second is local zoning committee work.
November 27, 2025 at 12:15 AM
All the talk of perceived-unfair criticism of attorneys reminds me that even though I’ve had a three-decade career in criminal defense, BY FAR the work that’s spawned the most vitriol & threats* toward me is my work on school facilities committees.
A distant second is local zoning committee work.
A distant second is local zoning committee work.
Prosecutorial misconduct is prosecutorial misconduct, even when the defendant has done horrible things.
Judge Dismisses Georgia Election Interference Case Against Trump
The extremely poor judgment exercised by Fulton County DA Fani Willis in hiring a man she was dating as a Special Prosecutor to lead the case against Trump doomed the case.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/26/u...
The extremely poor judgment exercised by Fulton County DA Fani Willis in hiring a man she was dating as a Special Prosecutor to lead the case against Trump doomed the case.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/26/u...
Judge Dismisses Georgia Election Interference Case Against Trump
www.nytimes.com
November 27, 2025 at 12:09 AM
Prosecutorial misconduct is prosecutorial misconduct, even when the defendant has done horrible things.
The hero of Murderbot is an unrepentant pirate of digital entertainment.
Oh, and there were downloads, sweet downloads, multiple entertainment feeds, way more than HaveRatton and Port FreeCommerce, hanging temptingly in the air.
November 26, 2025 at 11:52 PM
The hero of Murderbot is an unrepentant pirate of digital entertainment.
This is one county north of Columbus, and it’s bad. Really, really bad. My best wishes & sympathy for the prosecutor whom this felony-court judge is credibly accused of stalking & sexually assaulting.
(They’ll have a visiting judge & special prosecutor from a different county.)
(They’ll have a visiting judge & special prosecutor from a different county.)
Delaware County judge accused of sexually assaulting assistant prosecutor
Delaware County Common Pleas Court James Schuck is accused of stalking an assistant prosecutor and pressuring her for sex.
www.dispatch.com
November 26, 2025 at 1:48 AM
This is one county north of Columbus, and it’s bad. Really, really bad. My best wishes & sympathy for the prosecutor whom this felony-court judge is credibly accused of stalking & sexually assaulting.
(They’ll have a visiting judge & special prosecutor from a different county.)
(They’ll have a visiting judge & special prosecutor from a different county.)
Every vote counts, Example No. 39,684,249: An Ohio school levy’s unofficial loss became a 3-vote win after absentee ballots received in the 4 days after Election Day (but postmarked before Election Day) & valid provisional ballots were counted.
www.dispatch.com/story/news/e...
www.dispatch.com/story/news/e...
Jonathan Alder school levy survives recount after initially feared loss
The Jonathan Alder Local Schools bond issue passed by three votes after a recount certified the results after it appeared to fail on election night.
www.dispatch.com
November 25, 2025 at 10:09 PM
Every vote counts, Example No. 39,684,249: An Ohio school levy’s unofficial loss became a 3-vote win after absentee ballots received in the 4 days after Election Day (but postmarked before Election Day) & valid provisional ballots were counted.
www.dispatch.com/story/news/e...
www.dispatch.com/story/news/e...
Anti-union think tank brings Janus action in common pleas court. Claim: 10-day annual period to request no dues contract breach as to ex-members. Court: It’s “specious” b/c l unfair labor practice claims go to state board & you say “unfair” a gazillion times
www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/rod/docs/pdf...
www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/rod/docs/pdf...
November 25, 2025 at 11:28 AM
Anti-union think tank brings Janus action in common pleas court. Claim: 10-day annual period to request no dues contract breach as to ex-members. Court: It’s “specious” b/c l unfair labor practice claims go to state board & you say “unfair” a gazillion times
www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/rod/docs/pdf...
www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/rod/docs/pdf...
I guess I’ll stay and read a bit.
November 22, 2025 at 2:46 AM
I guess I’ll stay and read a bit.
What a headline:
“Ohio judge who jailed kids for refusing to see dad is suspended”
www.dispatch.com/story/news/p...
“Ohio judge who jailed kids for refusing to see dad is suspended”
www.dispatch.com/story/news/p...
November 21, 2025 at 11:52 PM
What a headline:
“Ohio judge who jailed kids for refusing to see dad is suspended”
www.dispatch.com/story/news/p...
“Ohio judge who jailed kids for refusing to see dad is suspended”
www.dispatch.com/story/news/p...
Ohio makes this easy for our Supreme Court:
“The Supreme Court shall, until otherwise provided by law, consist of seven judges, who shall be known as the chief justice and justices.”
Sometimes, I’ll hear lawyers at OA hear refer to “associate justices,” but Ohio has no such thing.
“The Supreme Court shall, until otherwise provided by law, consist of seven judges, who shall be known as the chief justice and justices.”
Sometimes, I’ll hear lawyers at OA hear refer to “associate justices,” but Ohio has no such thing.
November 21, 2025 at 10:14 PM
Ohio makes this easy for our Supreme Court:
“The Supreme Court shall, until otherwise provided by law, consist of seven judges, who shall be known as the chief justice and justices.”
Sometimes, I’ll hear lawyers at OA hear refer to “associate justices,” but Ohio has no such thing.
“The Supreme Court shall, until otherwise provided by law, consist of seven judges, who shall be known as the chief justice and justices.”
Sometimes, I’ll hear lawyers at OA hear refer to “associate justices,” but Ohio has no such thing.
The Ohio Supreme Court today held that at least some of the restrictions on how judges can engage in politics violate the First Amendment. They also held that incarcerating children without authority is a disciplinary violation. 18 mo. suspense, 12 mos. stayed.
www.courtnewsohio.gov/cases/2025/S...
www.courtnewsohio.gov/cases/2025/S...
November 21, 2025 at 5:43 PM
The Ohio Supreme Court today held that at least some of the restrictions on how judges can engage in politics violate the First Amendment. They also held that incarcerating children without authority is a disciplinary violation. 18 mo. suspense, 12 mos. stayed.
www.courtnewsohio.gov/cases/2025/S...
www.courtnewsohio.gov/cases/2025/S...
Nominee for Most Under-Appreciated Lawyers—the ones who are really good at representing people charged with non-jailable offenses and misdemeanors.
Yes. I’m. It sure if it’s called a summons, a citation, or something else.
And to be clear, my experience is almost entirely with felonies. Misdemeanor and minor misdemeanors scare me because they’re a world of their own and tend to have a lot of local quirks.
And to be clear, my experience is almost entirely with felonies. Misdemeanor and minor misdemeanors scare me because they’re a world of their own and tend to have a lot of local quirks.
November 20, 2025 at 10:15 PM
Nominee for Most Under-Appreciated Lawyers—the ones who are really good at representing people charged with non-jailable offenses and misdemeanors.
Exhibit 1 for why we need a jury trial right for misdemeanors:
November 20, 2025 at 9:28 PM
Exhibit 1 for why we need a jury trial right for misdemeanors:
I learned one quirk of why our Columbus school district wants someone else to buy COTA bus passes for high school students.
If CCS buys the bus passes, state law says it has to do the same for private school students. But anyone else buying the passes could buy them only for public school students.
If CCS buys the bus passes, state law says it has to do the same for private school students. But anyone else buying the passes could buy them only for public school students.
November 19, 2025 at 12:44 PM
I learned one quirk of why our Columbus school district wants someone else to buy COTA bus passes for high school students.
If CCS buys the bus passes, state law says it has to do the same for private school students. But anyone else buying the passes could buy them only for public school students.
If CCS buys the bus passes, state law says it has to do the same for private school students. But anyone else buying the passes could buy them only for public school students.
My autocorrect has figured out that “Murderbot” is a proper noun
November 19, 2025 at 11:46 AM
My autocorrect has figured out that “Murderbot” is a proper noun
Oral argument advice from Murderbot
I just realized I don’t like the phrase “as far as I knew” because it implies how much you actually don’t know. I’m not going to stop using it, but. I don’t like it as much anymore.
November 19, 2025 at 11:42 AM
Oral argument advice from Murderbot
I address the Columbus City Schools BOE again. I don’t know if it makes a difference, but 2016 was the first time I was involved with facilities issues, & if they’d adopted a feasible “Master Plan” then, 1000s of more CCS kids would be in new schools now. But at least three more times since then…
BOE 2025-11-18
YouTube video by Columbus City Schools BOE
m.youtube.com
November 19, 2025 at 2:18 AM
I address the Columbus City Schools BOE again. I don’t know if it makes a difference, but 2016 was the first time I was involved with facilities issues, & if they’d adopted a feasible “Master Plan” then, 1000s of more CCS kids would be in new schools now. But at least three more times since then…
Insert “Cowtown” jokes here.
November 19, 2025 at 2:05 AM
Insert “Cowtown” jokes here.
“Abatements” and “administrative expenses” are the “waste fraud & abuse” of the left, at least when it comes to Columbus City Schools—an argument to do nothing effective.
Yeah, there’s some money there, but it won’t solve the problem.
Yeah, there’s some money there, but it won’t solve the problem.
November 19, 2025 at 1:56 AM
“Abatements” and “administrative expenses” are the “waste fraud & abuse” of the left, at least when it comes to Columbus City Schools—an argument to do nothing effective.
Yeah, there’s some money there, but it won’t solve the problem.
Yeah, there’s some money there, but it won’t solve the problem.
An #AppellateSky aside,
50 Ways to Lose your Writ:
Chorus:
Remedy at law, Shaw
Why were you late, Kate
You filed way too soon, June
Just get yourself screwed
Res judicata, Ata
You don't need to rewrite it
Just get it reviewed, Dude
And get yourself screwed
50 Ways to Lose your Writ:
Chorus:
Remedy at law, Shaw
Why were you late, Kate
You filed way too soon, June
Just get yourself screwed
Res judicata, Ata
You don't need to rewrite it
Just get it reviewed, Dude
And get yourself screwed
Make a new plan, Stan
November 17, 2025 at 10:42 PM
An #AppellateSky aside,
50 Ways to Lose your Writ:
Chorus:
Remedy at law, Shaw
Why were you late, Kate
You filed way too soon, June
Just get yourself screwed
Res judicata, Ata
You don't need to rewrite it
Just get it reviewed, Dude
And get yourself screwed
50 Ways to Lose your Writ:
Chorus:
Remedy at law, Shaw
Why were you late, Kate
You filed way too soon, June
Just get yourself screwed
Res judicata, Ata
You don't need to rewrite it
Just get it reviewed, Dude
And get yourself screwed