Judge dismisses felony charges in Michigan election tampering case

Judge dismissed felony charges against former Adams Township Clerk Stephanie Scott, attorney Stefanie Lambert
Lower court ‘abused its discretion’ when it ordered the pair to stand trial on election tampering charges, judge found
Scott still faces one misdemeanor charge, and Lambert faces charges in a separate Oakland County case

A Hillsdale County judge on Thursday dismissed felony charges against a former election clerk and attorney accused of allowing unauthorized access to voting equipment following the 2020 presidential election.

A lower court made an “error of law” and “abused its discretion” when it ordered Stephanie Scott and Stefanie Lambert stand trial on related felony charges, Circuit Court Judge Sara Lisznyai wrote in an eight-page ruling.

Scott was serving as Adams Township Clerk in 2021 when she refused to turn over a missing tabulator amid a quest to prove the prior year’s presidential election was rigged against Donald Trump. Lambert, of metro Detroit, served as her attorney at the time.

Related stories:

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel charged the pair with multiple crimes in 2024, alleging they gave an unauthorized computer examiner access to voter data, including non-public voter information.

But Scott and Lambert were erroneously bound over on trial based on a faulty understanding that the Michigan Freedom of Information Act had made that voter information “confidential,” Lisnyai ruled Thursday.

The judge dismissed the felony counts as a result.

“The court’s opinion wrongly suggests that election officials can release sensitive voter information protected from disclosure by state and federal law,” Nessel spokesperson Kimberly Bush said in a statement.

“While we are considering our next steps, including making a determination regarding an appeal, we are extremely disappointed and concerned about the implications this may have on upcoming elections.”

Stephanie scott — Former Adams Township Clerk Stephanie Scott, who voters recalled in 2023, still faces a misdemeanor charge after a judge dismissed felony counts against her in an election tampering case. (Jonathan Oosting/Bridge Michigan)

Scott still faces a 90-day misdemeanor charge of disobeying a lawful instruction or order of the secretary of state as chief election officer, which Lisnyai said should be handled at the district court level moving forward.

Her attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the case.

Lambert’s attorney, Peter Ticktin, celebrated the dismissal of charges against his client. The case was a “lawfare attack on an effective and innocent lawyer,” he said in a statement.

Lambert is expected to stand trial on separate tabulator tampering charges in Oakland County. But Ticktin predicted that case will be dismissed too because, he said, Lambert “did nothing wrong.”