Case: JOSLIN v. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

1:26-cv-00576 | U.S. District Court for the District of District of Columbia

Filed Date: Feb. 23, 2026

Case Ongoing

Clearinghouse coding in progress

Case Summary

[This summary is temporary while we research this case.]

Plaintiff Shannon Joslin—a nonbinary park ranger and biologist—together with a group of climber friends, unfurled a trans pride flag on El Cap for less than three hours. The next day, the Yosemite Superintendent announced a new ban on certain sized flags in over 94% of the park. Not soon after that, the plaintiff alleged that they were fired from their job as a park ranger and informed they were being criminally investigated by the government. In response, the plaintiff brought suit for an alleged violation of their First Amendment and Privacy Act rights.

Summary Authors

Jinan Abufarha (3/2/2026)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72312534/parties/joslin-v-us-department-of-the-interior/


Attorney for Plaintiff

Bailey, Clayton Louis (District of Columbia)

Attorney for Defendant

Brown, Allison Ilene (District of Columbia)

Georgiev-Remmel, Dimitar (District of Columbia)

show all people

Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document
1

1:26-cv-00576

Complaint

Feb. 23, 2026

Feb. 23, 2026

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72312534/joslin-v-us-department-of-the-interior/

Last updated March 2, 2026, 7:28 p.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link
1

COMPLAINT against All Defendants ( Filing Fee $405 receipt number ADCDC-12258347) filed by SHANNON SJ JOSLIN. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Summons)(Bailey, Clayton) Modified on 2/23/2026 (zmtm). (Attachment 1 replaced on 2/23/2026) (zmtm). (Entered: 02/23/2026)

1 Civil Cover Sheet

View on RECAP

2 Summons

View on RECAP

Feb. 23, 2026

Feb. 23, 2026

Clearinghouse
2

SEALED DOCUMENT filed by SHANNON SJ JOSLIN re 1 Complaint (This document is SEALED and only available to authorized persons.)(Bailey, Clayton) (Entered: 02/23/2026)

Feb. 23, 2026

Feb. 23, 2026

3

MOTION for Preliminary Injunction by SHANNON SJ JOSLIN. (Attachments: # 1 Memorandum in Support, # 2 Declaration Declaration of Margaret (Emmy) Wydman, # 3 Exhibit Wydman Decl. Exhibits, # 4 Declaration Declaration of Shannon "SJ" Joslin, # 5 Exhibit Joslin Decl. Exhibits, # 6 Text of Proposed Order)(Bailey, Clayton) (Entered: 02/23/2026)

1 Memorandum in Support

View on RECAP

2 Declaration Declaration of Margaret (Emmy) Wydman

View on RECAP

3 Exhibit Wydman Decl. Exhibits

View on RECAP

4 Declaration Declaration of Shannon "SJ" Joslin

View on RECAP

5 Exhibit Joslin Decl. Exhibits

View on RECAP

6 Text of Proposed Order

View on RECAP

Feb. 23, 2026

Feb. 23, 2026

RECAP
4

SUMMONS (9) Issued Electronically as to All Defendants, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachments: # 1 Notice and Consent)(zmtm) (Entered: 02/23/2026)

1 Notice and Consent

View on RECAP

Feb. 23, 2026

Feb. 23, 2026

RECAP

Case Assigned/Reassigned

Feb. 23, 2026

Feb. 23, 2026

Status Report Order

Feb. 23, 2026

Feb. 23, 2026

Case Assigned to Judge Sparkle L. Sooknanan. (zmtm)

Feb. 23, 2026

Feb. 23, 2026

MINUTE ORDER: The Plaintiff has filed a 1 Complaint and 3 Motion for Preliminary Injunction but it does not yet appear that the Defendants have been served. The Court therefore ORDERS that within 48 hours of the Plaintiff effecting service, the Parties must meet and confer and file a joint status report addressing the following issues: (1) a proposed briefing schedule on the motion; (2) a statement addressing whether a hearing on the motion is necessary, and if so, three proposed dates and times for such a hearing; and (3) a statement addressing whether the Parties anticipate factual disputes between the declarants, and if so, whether the Parties believe an evidentiary hearing will be necessary to resolve the disputes and a proposal for proceeding with such a hearing, see LCvR 65.1(d). The Parties may also address any other issues that they believe will be helpful to the Court. Any disagreements should be noted in the Joint Status Report. Signed by Judge Sparkle L. Sooknanan on 2/23/2026. (lcal)

Feb. 23, 2026

Feb. 23, 2026

5

NOTICE of Appearance by Allison Ilene Brown on behalf of All Defendants (Brown, Allison) (Entered: 02/24/2026)

Feb. 24, 2026

Feb. 24, 2026

RECAP
6

NOTICE of Appearance by Dimitar Georgiev-Remmel on behalf of All Defendants (Georgiev-Remmel, Dimitar) (Entered: 02/24/2026)

Feb. 24, 2026

Feb. 24, 2026

RECAP
7

Joint STATUS REPORT Re Schedule by PAM BONDI, JESSICA BOWRON, DOUG BURGUM, ERIC GRANT, NATIONAL PARK SERVICE, U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR. (Brown, Allison) (Entered: 02/25/2026)

Feb. 25, 2026

Feb. 25, 2026

RECAP

.Order AND ~Util - Set/Reset Deadlines

Feb. 25, 2026

Feb. 25, 2026

MINUTE ORDER: In light of the 7 Joint Status Report, the Court ORDERS the Defendants to file their motion to transfer by March 2, 2026. The Plaintiff must file their opposition to the Defendants' Motion by March 5, 2026. The Defendants must file any reply in support of their motion by March 9, 2026. Signed by Judge Sparkle L. Sooknanan on 2/25/2026. (lcal)

Feb. 25, 2026

Feb. 25, 2026

8

Transfer Case

March 2, 2026

March 2, 2026

Case Details

State / Territory:

District of Columbia

Case Type(s):

Speech and Religious Freedom

Special Collection(s):

Trump Administration 2.0: Challenges to the Government

Key Dates

Filing Date: Feb. 23, 2026

Case Ongoing: Yes

Case Details

Other Dockets:

District of District of Columbia 1:26-cv-00576

Available Documents:

Complaint (any)

Trial Court Docket