Hon. E. Scott Frost (Ret) - Abilene, TX

Born and raised in Eastland, Texas, Judge E. Scott Frost built a career defined by toughness, integrity, and deep courtroom experience. After more than 30 years serving the law first as a litigator for the U.S. Department of Justice, then as a federal judge—he joined Keith & Lorfing in July 2025 to bring that experience to work for everyday West Texans.

Frost earned his undergraduate degree from Angelo State University and received his Doctor of Jurisprudence from Texas Tech University School of Law in 1987. He began his legal career clerking for U.S. District Judge Sam R. Cummings in Lubbock, then practiced civil litigation with the Fort Worth firm McLean, Sanders, Price, Head & Ellis. In 1990, he returned to Lubbock to serve as an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas—a position he held for over two decades.

As a federal prosecutor, Frost handled a wide range of civil matters, including employment law, personal injury and medical malpractice defense, civil rights claims, and farm bankruptcy litigation. He tried countless bench and jury trials and argued multiple times before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. He was also trusted as the Professional Responsibility Officer for the district and taught regularly at the Department of Justice’s National Advocacy Center.

In 2011, Frost was sworn in as a United States Magistrate Judge, presiding over both criminal and civil cases in the Abilene and San Angelo divisions. His leadership on the bench earned him a nomination for United States District Judge in 2016 and a rare “Unanimously Well Qualified” rating from the American Bar Association—its highest possible evaluation.

After completing his eight-year term as Magistrate Judge, Frost returned to private practice with Richards, Elder & Gibson (now Richards, Elder & Frost), focusing on federal court litigation and mediation. He was recognized in 2018 with the Daniel H. Benson Public Service Award from the Texas Tech Law Alumni Association, honoring his decades of service and contributions to the legal field.

Now Of Counsel at Keith & Lorfing, Judge Frost brings a rare mix of courtroom grit and federal insight to every case he touches—offering our clients the kind of experience you can’t teach and judgment you can trust.