William J. Scott (November 11, 1926 – June 22, 1986) was an American lawyer and politician.

Born in Chicago, Illinois, Scott served in the United States Naval Air Corps during World War II.

In 1980, while on trial for understating his 1972 United States income tax, he unsuccessfully sought the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate.

In 1982, after losing an appeal in the United States Supreme Court, he was sentenced to a year and a day in prison.

He died at his home, in Palos Heights, Illinois, of a heart attack.