Judge rejects Yosemite ranger’s bid to regain job after flag protest
What’s new: The ruling said federal law leaves this employment dispute outside the trial court’s power, and also denied a bid to block any criminal probe.
A federal judge in California dismissed a lawsuit by former Yosemite ranger Shannon “SJ” Joslin, who sought reinstatement after being fired for hanging a transgender pride flag across El Capitan last year. U.S. District Judge Jennifer Thurston ruled Friday that the court lacks authority under existing federal law and precedent to decide whether Joslin was fired for unconstitutional reasons. She also denied Joslin’s request for a preliminary injunction that would have restored the job and barred any potential criminal investigation. Joslin, who identifies as nonbinary, sued the Department of the Interior earlier this year, arguing the rules were enforced selectively because of the flag’s message.