ABOUT: Tom Hardy
Tom has lived in Bishop since 1966 when his family moved to town and he started kindergarten in the Bishop School System. After graduating from Bishop Union High School in 1979, he attended Claremont McKenna College, earning his Bachelor of Arts, magna cum laude, in 1983, majoring in Political Science. He graduated from the UCLA School of Law in 1987and was elected to the Order of the Coif. He also earned American Jurisprudence prizes in Criminal Procedure and Business Associations.
After law school, Tom returned to Bishop first working as an associate, and then in his own firms. While in private practice he handled a wide range of matters including criminal defense, real property, business transactional and litigation work and estate planning and administration. In 1997, he accepted the position of Assistant District Attorney for Inyo County and served in that capacity until July, 2002, when he left for what became a two year sabbatical from the practice of law.
legal focus
Tom's practice focuses on business development, organization, and transactions, as well as estate planning and administration. His long experience in the criminal courts also makes him Hardy & Place's principal criminal law practitioner.
He is a member of the State Bar of California, the Inyo County Bar Association (including two terms as President), California Attorneys for Criminal Justice, and is admitted to practice before the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California, and the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. His published opinions include In re Chantal S. (1996) 13 Cal.4th 196, and In re Cicely L. (1994) 28 Cal.App.4th 1697.
a member of the community
When not practicing law or cooking, Tom enjoys working in his vegetable and herb garden, hiking, reading and traveling. He is married to Nancy, a dedicated middle school teacher and part-time pet dog trainer.
He is a member (and past Chair) of the City of Bishop Planning Commission, and a member (and 2007-08 President) of the Bishop Sunrise Rotary Club. He serves as President of the Board of Trustees of the Donald M. Slager Sunset Foundation, and a member of the Board of Directors of the non-profit Inyo Mono Advocates for Community Action.