Thread by @joshgerstein

NOW: Hearing underway before Las Vegas federal judge on GOP challenge to Clark County NV automated process for absentee ballot signature matching

GOP lawyer David O'Mara's 1st complaint is access to counting, says public observers are behind glass. 'It's just basically nothing. You get nothing out of it. It makes that statute a nullity.'

Judge is quoting Justice Kavanaugh about dangers of federal judges stepping into election administration at last minute

Judge Gordon: 'You're asking for extraordinary injunctive relief. It has to be narrowly tailored. What I'm not hearing is any narrow tailoring of what you want me to do.'

Judge is asking why client waited to take legal action after being refused to vote on Oct. 28 because clerk believed she already voted. Initially judge says it may be laches (waiting too long) but then backs down

Craig Newby, NV deputy solicitor general, says plaintiffs advocating a 'nebulous, undefined' access standard. invokes Purcell principle, says NV court has pending case. 'They are in the best position and the final authority on what Nevada state law is.'

Newby says there's a very good reason why Clark County is using machine-matching for signatures. 'There's a rational basis for that. There's a lot more people in Clark County.'

Judge Gordon ruling from bench on TRO request. Sounds like GOP will lose.

They did lose. Story to come.