Discipline Notice - Scott E. Stafne

License Number: 6964
Member Name: Scott E. Stafne
Discipline Detail
Action: Disbarment
Effective Date: 5/14/2026
RPC: 3.1 - Meritorious Claims and Contentions
8.2 - Judicial and Legal Officials
8.4 (d) - Conduct Prejudicial to the Administration of Justice
8.4 (h) - Prejudice or Bias
Discipline Notice: Hearing Officer's Decision
Disciplinary Board Order Declining Sua Sponte Review and Adopting Hearing Officer’s Decision
Supreme Court Order
Description: Scott Erik Stafne (WSBA No. 6964, admitted 1976) of Arlington, WA, was disbarred, effective 5/14/2026, by order of the Washington Supreme Court. Francisco Rodriguez acted as disciplinary counsel. Scott Erik Stafne represented themselves. Douglas Warren Vanscoy was the hearing officer.

The lawyer’s conduct violated the following Rules of Professional Conduct: 3.1 (Meritorious Claims and Contentions), 8.2 (Judicial and Legal Officials), 8.4(d) (Prejudicial to the Admin of Justice) and 8.4(h) (Prejudice or Bias).
The hearing officer recommended, and the court ordered, that Stafne be disbarred from the practice of law in Washington State.
Stafne was found to have violated the Rules of Professional Conduct by 1) bringing and defending several matters without having a basis in law and fact for doing so that was not frivolous and asserting and controverting issues in several matters without having a basis in law and fact for doing so that was not frivolous, 2) alleging that Judge Zilly had age-related cognitive deficits and alleging that Judge Zilly and other senior federal judges in several matters were not Article III judges and were biased and/or corrupt, with reckless disregard for the truth or falsity of such allegations.
Decision documents: Hearing Officer’s Decision; Disciplinary Board Order Declining Sua Sponte Review and Adopting Hearing Officer’s Decision; and Washington Supreme Court Order.


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