In early 2026, one of the most outspoken critics of the Anchorage Assembly, Dustin Darden, filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against Anchorage Mayor Suzanne LaFrance and other municipal officials, alleging violations of his First, Fourth, and Fourteenth Amendment rights. The case, now before the U.S. Supreme Court as Application No. 25A1162, stems from Darden’s forcible removal from the Anchorage Assembly chambers during a public comment period on January 13, 2026.
Darden, a school bus driver, carpenter, and frequent public commentator who has run for local office, claims he was exercising his right to address elected officials when Assembly Chair Christopher Constant ruled him “out of order” for veering off-topic despite prior warnings.
At the time, Darden was using part of his public testimony to recite the Pledge of Allegiance and proclaim his Christian faith. Security then removed him from the meeting, and the video feed was cut. He was also trespassed from the subsequent meeting. Darden argues these actions amounted to unconstitutional prior restraint, viewpoint discrimination, unlawful seizure, and due process violations.
The suit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska (3:26-cv-00053-SLG) this winter. Representing himself, without an attorney, Darden sought a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction to prevent further exclusion from public meetings. On March 16, Federal District Judge Sharon L. Gleason denied the motions, ruling that the Assembly’s restrictions were reasonable, viewpoint-neutral, and time-place-manner regulations in a limited public forum. (See the district court order here.)
Darden promptly appealed to the Ninth Circuit (No. 26-1606) and filed an emergency application for an injunction with the U.S. Supreme Court. Last month, his application was submitted to Justice Elena Kagan, who denied it on April 21. Darden refiled it with Justice Clarence Thomas on April 24. On May 12, the application was then distributed for the full Court’s conference, which is set for May 28.
Darden’s case currently sits in the Supreme Court’s emergency applications docket, where requests for interim relief are managed on an expedited basis with limited briefing. A small fraction of these types of applications ever reach full conference, and most are eventually denied.
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On May 28, the justices will meet privately to consider Darden’s case. An order is expected shortly thereafter.
The possible outcomes could include denial of the application while the Ninth Circuit appeal proceeds, granting a rare injunction, which would give Darden temporary relief to attend and speak at future meetings, or the Court could pause enforcement temporarily and seek responses from both parties.
Any of the above decisions, however, would not resolve the underlying constitutional claims but could signal the justices’ views if the case ever made it to the Supreme Court.
The case highlights ongoing tensions over free speech concerns in the Anchorage Assembly meetings, dating back to widespread controversy over Anchorage’s highly contentious Covid mandates.
Darden has been a mainstay at the Assembly meetings, frequently criticizing the hard-left majority for what he sees as violations of personal liberties, free speech and other constitutional issues.
Regardless of the outcome on the emergency application, Darden’s Ninth Circuit appeal will continue, and the matter could possibly reach the Supreme Court, although this would be an exceptionally rare outcome for such a case.
As a pro se litigant, representing himself, Darden has advanced his case remarkably quickly.
17 Comments
This is great news. Go Dustin, go!
Good for him ! No one else has the balls to stand up to the Assembly and their leftist ways.
The Anchorage assembly doesn’t like loudmouths … unless its themselves.
you have to give Darden some real props. It’s David and Goliath with the Marxist 8.5
And they have unlimited access to our taxpayer dollars for legal disputes, no irony there.
Dustin Darden ,Good for you. You’re in our prayers as in fighting against, this woke leftist government. Anchorage has become an evil, filthy city.
The Anchorage assembly violates more rules then any assembly ever before and no one calls them on it. It would be nice to see them slapped around a bit by Scotus but i wouldn’t get my hopes to high as that court has a bunch of spineless jelly fish also
You go Dustin, it maybe a David & Goliath moment but it is time to start making all this corruption center stage! They forget who they work for! UnFairbanks has a bunch of left leaning lunatics without brains who also hold us hostage and piss away our tax dollars. Praying for a significantly positive outcome and your safety! These people are crazy!
The IQ of the people that read the Watchmen is definitely double digits. Nothing says 4th grade education like witty observations like “leftist “. You are all soft. You are all easily distracted and conned. Hooray for culture wars!! Who needs healthcare or a balanced budget. The debt service doom loop (a situation that has our national debt payments = GDP) is in full effect. The current president and George W are on the hook for 50% of that number and rising. Brain dead MAGA lames have ruined our country by enabling bad governance. You sad hypocrites have sold our youth out for an orange turd all so you can feel good about calling people retard. Enjoy watching billionaires live it up while you struggle. You voted for this and you deserve all the rewards. Hope the enjoyment you get out of name calling makes up for the lack of healthcare and quality of life.
Ahh did someone hurt your poor little feelings. Poor goverance has been the norm in DC for at least the last three decades it just hasn’t happened overnight. Maybe you should look at both sides not one sided but then again the MSM and the Democrats will give you the talking points.
TDS
My IQ is fine. It’s 130. We are trying a new way because your way just doesn’t work. Healthcare is unafforable and an insurance scam. The amount spent on Alaska citizens has always been highest per capita, and by the way, the people pay it one way or another. The old guard is dying and freedom is scary. Get used to it.
I hope this will be heard before the court. Does anyone know how the go fund me works to help him go before the US Supreme Court?
That’s a good idea. I’ve never started one but from what I can tell from reading some of them, you would want to contact Dustin and make sure he would be on-board with one. Then go on the go fund me site and search for ” starting a go fund me for someone else” and go from there.
out of order = offending snowflake assembly toddlers
Classic mistake. Never expect the same government that screws you over to help you later. This isn’t the same American I grew up in. Sad days.
Assembly Chair Christopher Constant thinks he is the Wizard of OZ ? Keep the curtain open Toto !
Where are the pastors? Are they cowards?