Anonymity at public protests

Four current or former Seattle police officers ask the Court to pause the Washington Supreme Court ruling while they seek Supreme Court review. The dispute concerns records from an investigation of their presence in Washington, D.C., on January 6, 2021. They want their names removed from any released records and argue that disclosing their identities and answers about political views violates the First Amendment.

The Court refused the temporary pause (denied the stay), leaving the Washington Supreme Court ruling in place without deciding the First Amendment dispute. Justice Alito agreed with the denial and wrote a statement; Justice Thomas joined it. Alito’s statement says the denial does not endorse the Washington Supreme Court’s decision or its First Amendment interpretation; no vote was published.

This emergency ruling addresses only a temporary pause; it does not decide who wins the underlying dispute. The Washington Supreme Court’s ruling remains in place; no related case on the main question is listed, and no argument is set.

Facts on this page come from the Supreme Court docket, orders, and opinions for No. 24A982. The answers restate that record in plain words; explainer copy is written from the record and the filings only.

• SupremeCourt.gov docket page
• The Court's opinion (PDF)
• SupremeCourt.gov
• SupremeCourt.gov

Checked October 3, 2026