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PRESS RELEASE

STATEMENT | PEER and Civil Service Law Center Continue Fight for Fired Yosemite Ranger’s Free Speech Rights at the Office of Special Counsel After Court Dismisses Related Case on Procedural Grounds

Jun 18, 2026

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, June 18, 2026
Contact:
Joanna Citron Day | (240) 247-3081 | [email protected]

PEER and Civil Service Law Center Continue Fight for Fired Yosemite Ranger’s Free Speech Rights at the Office of Special Counsel After Court Dismisses Related Case on Procedural Grounds

 

Washington, DC — Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER) and the Civil Service Law Center will continue their fight for fired Dr. Shannon “SJ” Joslin’s free speech rights at the U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC) after a federal court dismissed a lawsuit brought by Dr. Joslin against the Department of the Interior. Dr. Joslin is also considering all options as to their federal court claims.

Dr. Joslin was terminated from their job as a park ranger at Yosemite after helping hang a transgender pride flag from El Capitan on their own time. While the court’s ruling is a procedural setback, it does not resolve the merits of Dr. Joslin’s claims that their termination violated their free speech rights under the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

“This ruling allows Dr. Joslin’s case to move forward at the Office of Special Counsel, but it changes nothing about the underlying facts: Dr. Joslin was fired and criminally investigated for off-duty speech the government didn’t like,” said Joanna Citron Day, General Counsel at PEER. “We will continue to pursue every available avenue to hold the administration accountable and to get Dr. Joslin reinstated.”

The OSC is an independent federal investigative and agency charged by Congress with protecting federal employees from prohibited personnel practices. PEER and the Civil Service Law Center will continue to represent Dr. Joslin during the OSC process and any continuing court action as part of their effort to defend the free speech rights of federal employees. 

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 Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan watchdog supporting public employees who protect the environment. PEER defends whistleblowers, exposes corruption, and fights for transparency in government.