LANSING — A judge in Hillsdale County has dismissed election-related charges against a former township clerk and a prominent Republican attorney.
Circuit Judge Sara Lisznyai dismissed the charges April 30 against former Adams Township clerk Stephanie Scott and Detroit attorney Stefanie Lambert, who was charged under that name but now practices under the name Stefanie Lynn Junttila.
In 2024, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel accused Scott and Lambert of working together to undermine trust in the electoral process and allowing unauthorized access to voter data after the 2020 election.
Scott allegedly ignored instructions from the Secretary of State’s Office to submit a voting tabulator for maintenance. Under Scott’s direction, attorney Stefanie Lambert, who came to prominence as an attorney challenging 2020 election results on behalf of President Donald Trump, allegedly shared 2020 election data from the township’s poll book. And together the pair allegedly gave an unauthorized computer examiner access to 2020 election data, according to Nessel’s office.
Felony charges brought against the two women by Nessel included using computer to commit a crime, which is a seven-year felony, unauthorized access to a computer, and conspiracy, which are both five-year felonies.
But Lisznyai ruled that the voter information shared from the township poll book, which included birth dates and other personal information, was not confidential in state law. Instead, it was information not subject to disclosure under the Michigan Freedom of Information Act, but not deemed confidential, the judge found.
Lansing attorney David Kallman said in an April 30 news release that the ruling completely vindicates Scott, who was recalled by voters in 2023.
“Our client is a local public official trying to carry out her lawful duties and the Attorney General weaponized criminal statutes against her in a manner never used in Michigan’s history,” Kallman said.
Peter Ticktin, a Florida attorney representing Lambert, said in a May 1 news release that the charges should never have been brought and suggested state officials wanted to prevent disclosure of information related to election irregularities.
Kimberly Bush, a spokeswoman for Nessel, said her office is considering its next steps, including whether to appeal.
“We are extremely disappointed and concerned about the implications this may have on upcoming elections,” Bush said in a May 1 email.
“The Court’s opinion wrongly suggests that election officials can release sensitive voter information protected from disclosure by state and federal law.”
Lambert still faces charges in Oakland County related to allegedly gaining illegal access to voting machines. She has pleaded not guilty.
This story was updated to add new information.
Contact Paul Egan: 517-372-8660 or pegan@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Hillsdale judge dismisses charges against former clerk, GOP attorney
Reporting by Paul Egan, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
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