LDS “Old Boys Club”? Ex-Stake President Judge Caught Secretly Meddling in LDS Case He Was Forced to Drop

Just weeks after the Washington State Commission on Judicial Conduct launched a formal investigation into Clallam County Superior Court Judge Brent Basden, his attempts to distance himself from the scandal appear to be a mirage.

Recusal in Name Only

Following intense public outcry, Judge Basden—a former Stake President for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints—recused himself from a highly controversial family law case involving allegations of child sex abuse against a member of his former LDS Stake, Benjamin Mavy.

However, official court records obtained by the Olympic Herald reveal that despite his formal recusal, Judge Basden has maintained a grip on the proceedings.

The Clallam County Superior Court Family Docket for Friday, March 27, 2026, explicitly lists the case of Benjamin Mavy as the very first item on Judge Basden’s 9:00 a.m. calendar.

While a note on the docket states a restraining order is “to be heard first by Kitsap Judge,” the case inexplicably remained anchored to Basden’s physical docket and inside Courtroom 3.

A Court Observer Sounds the Alarm

This wasn’t merely a clerical error. According to eyewitness accounts, Judge Basden actively involved himself in the March 27 hearing despite his recusal.

A certified crime victim advocate, was present as a court observer and expressed deep concern over the judge’s continued participation. The advocate noted that while a disqualified judge may transfer a case or request a visiting judge, they are generally prohibited from participating in the substantive aspects of the matter.

However, during Friday’s hearing, Judge Basden was seen openly observing the proceedings and directly facilitating the scheduling and assignment of future hearings—administrative duties that the advocate pointed out are typically handled by the court clerk’s office or superior court administration, not a recused judge.

The advocate warned that this highly unusual involvement risks creating an alarming appearance of prejudice.

They emphasized that due process guarantees litigants the right to a neutral decision-maker, and that the justice system must remain free from even the appearance of impropriety.

Close Personal Relationship

Back in December 2025, Mavy testified at a trial that he and Basden share one of his “closest friends”

Piercing the Veil of the "Old Boys Club"

The exposure of this ongoing judicial interference comes at a critical time. Just this month, this publication faced a direct legal challenge from the same associate of Judge Basden seeking to force the removal of our investigative articles.

Yet, despite these attempts to suppress reporting on the Clallam County bench, the transparency of the court’s own morning docket and the presence of vigilant advocates in the courtroom continue to pierce the veil of what critics are increasingly calling an LDS “old boys club.”

The underlying CJC investigation stems from a formal complaint alleging Judge Basden allowed his ecclesiastical background to severely bias his rulings, prioritizing the protection of a fellow LDS church member over the safety of children who disclosed sexual abuse.

By keeping the Mavy case on his docket and allegedly meddling in the proceedings after a forced recusal, Judge Basden’s actions raise profound questions about the integrity of the local family court system.

While the CJC probe represents a crucial step in accountability, this latest development suggests that localized oversight is a fragment of the necessary solution.

The continued entanglement of a recused judge in a high-stakes abuse case highlights a systemic vulnerability that may require intervention from entirely outside jurisdictions—such as the Washington State Supreme Court or independent legal watchdogs—to ensure a truly impartial venue for protective parents and abuse survivors.

A Call for Presiding Judge Intervention

Judge Barnhart, as presiding judge, could also act.

Washington State General Rule 29 explicitly states that the presiding judge is responsible for leading the management and administration of the court’s business and allocating resources to ensure disputes are resolved fairly and expeditiously.

GR 29(f)(1) mandates that the Presiding Judge supervise the judicial district to ensure the “expeditious and efficient processing of all cases.”

The rule goes further in GR 29(h), establishing that it is the duty of the Presiding Judge to supervise judicial officers to ensure timely case processing. If a judicial officer fails to perform their duties, the Presiding Judge “shall have the authority to address a judicial officer’s failure...and to propose remedial action.”

Finally, GR 29(f)(2) gives Judge Barnhart the authority to “establish general policies governing the assignment of judges.”

Thus, if he has the courage, Barnhart can save Clallam County, and issue a temporary administrative order that immediately removes Judge Brent Basden from all cases and assignments in Clallam County Superior Court.

Until Barnhart acts, the public will likely continue to perceive Basden’s actions as partial towards members of his Port Angeles LDS stake. Especially as some litigants openly state that Basden’s LDS membership could benefit their case.