On Tuesday, April 23, 2024, the Board of Immigration Appeals issued an order disbarring attorney Robert Scott Huff from practicing before the Board of Immigration Appeals, immigration courts, and the Department of Homeland Security. This came after Huff’s resignation from the Washington State Bar Association in February 2024 due to alleged misconduct related to misuse of client funds.
The case is entitled “In the Matter of Robert Scott.”
According to the Board’s order, on February 8, 2024, the Disciplinary Board of the Washington State Bar Association accepted Huff’s resignation in lieu of discipline, which took effect immediately. On February 22, 2024, the Disciplinary Counsels for the Executive Office for Immigration Review and the Department of Homeland Security jointly petitioned to suspend Huff from immigration practice.
Huff failed to file a timely response to the allegations in the joint Notice of Intent to Discipline as required. Under immigration court regulations, this constitutes an admission of the claims against him. As a result, Huff was not entitled to a hearing on the matter. The joint Notice proposed disbarring Huff effective March 8, 2024, and because of his default, the Board adopted this recommended sanction.
As background, Huff had been retained in April 2022 to represent a client in a dissolution case, receiving $7,500 in legal fees. However, he deposited the remaining settlement funds into his client trust account. From August to December 2022, Huff allegedly misappropriated at least $8,000 from these client funds by improperly transferring money to his business and personal accounts without authorization.
In resigning from the Washington Bar, Huff admitted to the alleged misconduct of misusing client funds and misrepresenting the account balance. He agreed to pay over $12,000 in costs, restitution, and expenses. The Board concluded disbarment was appropriate given Huff’s resignation from the state bar in lieu of discipline for trust account violations and other alleged misconduct.
The Disposition states:
“The Board hereby disbars the respondent from practice before the Board of Immigration Appeals, the Immigration Courts, and DHS. effective March 8, 2024.”
According to avvo.com, Mr. Huff was a criminal defense attorney in Bellevue, Washington.
A copy of the original filing can be found here.
