A federal judge in California on Friday dismissed a former Yosemite National Park employee’s lawsuit claiming illegal termination after helping unfurl a massive transgender pride flag on the granite face of the famed El Capitan last year.
U.S. District Judge Jennifer Thurston ruled that Shannon “SJ” Joslin, who was still in a probationary period when fired, must instead seek remedy from the U.S. Office of Special Counsel. The judge, a Biden appointee, cited the Civil Service Reform Act.
Joslin, who uses they/them pronouns, has filed a complaint with that office, which has not made a final ruling. The special counsel previously denied Joslin’s request to be reinstated at Yosemite while it considers the case.
“To me this ruling isn’t a ‘win’ for the federal government,” Joslin said in a text message to POLITICO’s E&E News on Monday. “This just slows down the process of allowing justice to be served.”
