THESE NOTICES OF THE IMPOSITION OF DISCIPLINARY SANCTIONS AND ACTIONS involving lawyers, limited practice officers (LPOs), and limited license legal technicians (LLLTs). Active links to directory listings, which provide additional information and documents related to the disciplinary matter, and other linked information can be found by viewing the online version of Washington State Bar News at www.wabarnews.org or by looking up the respondent in the Discipline Notice Directory at https://www.mywsba.org/PersonifyEbusiness/DisciplineNoticeDirectory.
As some WSBA members share the same or similar names, please read all disciplinary notices carefully for names, cities, and bar numbers.
Find prior Discipline & Other Regulatory Notices here.
Disbarred
Stephen Wray Jackson (WSBA No. 49023, admitted 2015) of Bellingham, was disbarred, effective 9/11/2025, by order of the Washington Supreme Court. Thea Jennings acted as disciplinary counsel. Stephen Wray Jackson represented themselves.
The lawyer’s conduct violated the following Rules of Professional Conduct: 1.15A (Safeguarding Property), 8.4(b) (Criminal Act), and 8.4(c) (Dishonesty, Fraud, Deceit or Misrepresentation).
Jackson stipulated to disbarment for converting client funds for respondent’s own use without entitlement to the funds.
Decision documents: Disciplinary Board Order Approving Stipulation to Disbarment; Stipulation to Disbarment; and Washington Supreme Court Order.
Charles Douglas Young (WSBA No. 22818 admitted 1993) of Portland, OR, was disbarred, effective 10/30/2025, by order of the Washington Supreme Court imposing reciprocal discipline in accordance with an order of the Supreme Court of the State of Oregon.
For more information, see https://www.osbar.org/_docs/dbreport/2025/YOUNGCharlesD23-188.pdf. Henry Cruz acted as disciplinary counsel. Charles Douglas Young represented themselves.
Decision document: The Washington Supreme Court Order.
Resigned in Lieu of Discipline
Donald Robert Buehler (WSBA No. 14284, admitted 1984) of Spokane Valley, resigned in lieu of discipline, effective 11/12/2025. The lawyer agrees that they are aware of the alleged misconduct in disciplinary counsel’s Statement of Alleged Misconduct and rather than defend against the allegations, they wish to permanently resign from membership in the Association. Henry Cruz acted as disciplinary counsel. Donald Robert Buehler represented themselves.
The Statement of Alleged Misconduct reflects the following violations of the Rules of Professional Conduct: 3.1 (Meritorious Claims and Contentions), 3.4 (Fairness to Opposing Party and Counsel), 4.4 (Respect for Rights of Third Person), 8.4(d) (Prejudicial to the Admin of Justice), and 8.4(j) (Violate a Court Order).
Buehler’s alleged misconduct includes: 1) repeatedly making criminal and/or other accusations against one or more individuals that had no basis in law or fact and/or were not relevant to the underlying matter; 2) filing motions and appeals that had no basis in law or fact and/or by asserting issues that previously had been found frivolous by the Washington Supreme Court and/or previously had been rejected in a prior interlocutory appeal; 3) failing to pay the court-ordered attorney fees and costs and/or the damages awarded by judgment.
Decision document: Resignation Form of Donald Robert Buehler ELC 9.3(b).
Terence Kain Wong (WSBA No. 24502, admitted 1994) of Newcastle, resigned in lieu of discipline, effective 11/26/2025. The lawyer agrees that they are aware of the alleged misconduct in disciplinary counsel’s Statement of Alleged Misconduct and rather than defend against the allegations, they wish to permanently resign from membership in the Association. Francisco Rodriguez acted as disciplinary counsel. Terence Kain Wong represented themselves.
The Statement of Alleged Misconduct reflects the following violations of the Rules of Professional Conduct: 1.3 (Diligence), 1.4 (Communication), 1.15A (Safeguarding Property), 3.2 (Expediting Litigation), 8.1 (Bar Admission and Disciplinary Matters), 8.4(c) (Dishonesty, Fraud, Deceit or Misrepresentation), and 8.4(d) (Prejudicial to the Admin of Justice).
Wong’s alleged misconduct includes: 1) failing to exercise reasonable diligence and make reasonable efforts to expedite litigation in a property line dispute; 2) failing to keep the client reasonably informed about the status of the matter, promptly comply with the client’s reasonable requests for information, and adequately explain issues to permit informed decision-making; 3) failing to deposit advance fee payments into a trust account; 4) making false and misleading statements to the client; 5) making false statements to the Office of Disciplinary Counsel; and 6) failing to provide the client with a written accounting upon request.
Decision document: Resignation Form of Terence Kain Wong ELC 9.3(b).
Suspended
D. Michael Hatch (WSBA No. 40410, admitted 2008) of Port Angeles, was suspended for 12 months, effective 11/27/2025, by order of the Washington Supreme Court. Amanda Lee and Nate Blanchard acted as disciplinary counsel. D. Michael Hatch represented themselves. Pilar L. Tirado Murray was the settlement hearing officer. Timothy J. O’Connell was the hearing officer.
The lawyer’s conduct violated the following Rules of Professional Conduct: 1.2 (Scope of Representation and Allocation of Authority Between Client and Lawyer) and 8.4(j) (Violate a Court Order).
Hatch stipulated to suspension for: 1) purporting to act as a lawyer for a former client after the representation had ended, knowing that the person was prohibited by court order from appointing someone to act on their behalf and/or that the respondent had not petitioned the court for appointment; 2) filing pleadings and notices of appeal after issuance of a court order prohibiting any representation of the former client without court authority and failing to obtain that authority.
Decision documents: Disciplinary Board Order Approving Stipulation; Stipulation to Suspension; and Washington Supreme Court Order.
Roger Edwin Hawkes (WSBA No. 5173, admitted 1973) of Sultan, was suspended for 30 months, effective 12/18/2025, by order of the Washington Supreme Court. Sachia Stonefeld Powell acted as disciplinary counsel. Roger Edwin Hawkes represented themselves. Pilar L. Tirado Murray was the hearing officer.
The lawyer’s conduct violated the following Rules of Professional Conduct: 1.15A (Safeguarding Property) and 1.3 (Diligence).
The hearing officer recommended, and the court ordered, that Hawkes be suspended from the practice of law in Washington state for 30 months, with reinstatement conditioned on the payment of a restitution.
Roger Edwin Hawkes was found to have violated the Rules of Professional Conduct by: (1) holding a client’s former partner’s funds in trust for over two years in connection with a matter involving the distribution of assets from a committed intimate relationship, without providing a written annual accounting of those funds; (2) failing to deposit the funds into a separate interest-bearing trust account or a pooled interest-bearing trust account with appropriate sub-accounting; and (3) failing to promptly pay or deliver the funds to which the person was entitled for.
Decision documents: Hearing Officer’s Decision; Disciplinary Board Order Declining Sua Sponte Review and Adopting Hearing Officer’s Decision; and Washington Supreme Court Order.
Jeffery Aaron Rank (WSBA No. 58098 admitted 2021) of Enumclaw, was suspended for 30 months, effective 12/05/2022, with the entire suspension stayed based on their successful completion of the two-year and six-month term of probation in Texas, by order of the Washington Supreme Court imposing reciprocal discipline in accordance with an order of the Supreme Court of the State of Texas.
For more information, seehttps://www.texasbar.com/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Find_A_Lawyer&template=/Customsource/
MemberDirectory/Sanction.cfm&JWID=6154521. Henry Cruz acted as disciplinary counsel. Jeffery Aaron Rank represented themselves.
Decision document: The Washington Supreme Court Order.
James E. Shadduck (WSBA No. 22366 admitted 1992) of Portland, OR, was suspended for 60 days, effective 12/18/2025, by order of the Washington Supreme Court imposing reciprocal discipline in accordance with an order of the Supreme Court of the State of Oregon.
For more information, see https://www.osbar.org/_docs/dbreport/2025/SHADDUCKJamesE24-02and24-57.pdf. Henry Cruz acted as disciplinary counsel. James E. Shadduck represented themselves.
Decision document: The Washington Supreme Court Order.
Reprimanded
Karan Veer Phambota (WSBA No. 55628, admitted 2019) of Mukilteo, was reprimanded, effective 11/03/2025, by order of the chief hearing officer. Claire Carden acted as disciplinary counsel. Karan Veer Phambota represented themselves.
The lawyer’s conduct violated the following Rules of Professional Conduct: 8.4(c) (Dishonesty, Fraud, Deceit or Misrepresentation), 8.4(d) (Prejudicial to the Admin of Justice), and 8.4(e) (Improperly Influence Govt Agency/Official).
Phambota stipulated to reprimand for falsely claiming to be a Snohomish County prosecuting attorney to law enforcement officers.
Decision documents: Order Approving Stipulation to Reprimand; Stipulation to Reprimand; and Notice of Reprimand.
Rory Brian Riley (WSBA No. 53300 admitted 2018) of Scottsdale, AZ, was reprimanded, effective 12/01/2025, by order of the Washington Supreme Court imposing reciprocal discipline in accordance with an order of the Supreme Court of the State of Arizona.
For more information, see https://www.azcourts.gov/Portals/0/101/2025/RILEY%20PDJ%202025-9031%20bar%20
no%20032933.pdf?ver=lryE7UWowJlsaJETNXRWiQ%3D%3D. Henry Cruz acted as disciplinary counsel. Rory Brian Riley represented themselves.
Decision document: The Washington Supreme Court Order.
Transfer to Disability Inactive Status
Linda Beryl Lee (WSBA No. 10762, admitted 1980) of Lakewood, was transferred to disability inactive status, effective 8/12/2025. A hearing officer recommended, and the Disciplinary Board ordered, that Linda Beryl Lee be transferred to disability inactive status following a hearing. This is not a disciplinary action.
Petition For Reinstatement
A petition for reinstatement after disbarment has been filed by Paul S. Ritchie (WSBA No. 17894), who was admitted in 1988 and disbarred in 1994. A hearing on Ritchie’s petition is scheduled to be conducted before the Character and Fitness Board on Friday, March 20, 2026. Anyone wishing to do so may file with the Character and Fitness Board a written statement for or against reinstatement, setting forth factual matters to demonstrate that the petition does or does not meet the requirements of Washington Supreme Court Admission and Practice Rule (APR) 25.5(a). Except by the Character and Fitness Board’s leave, no person other than the petitioner or petitioner’s counsel shall be heard orally by the Board. Communications to the Character and Fitness Board should be sent to Counsel to the Character and Fitness Board, Washington State Bar Association, at OGC@wsba.org on or prior to the date of the hearing pursuant to APR 25.4(b). This notice is published pursuant to APR 25.4(a).