Judge denies restraining order for conservative media figures seeking press passes

Washington state lawmakers had the right to deny press credentials to the group, federal judge rules

Published on Mar. 10, 2026

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A federal judge has ruled that Washington state lawmakers were within their rights when they declined to issue press passes to three conservative media figures, including a talk radio host, a podcast host, and a think tank senior fellow. The group had filed a lawsuit seeking an emergency restraining order to force the state House to grant them the passes in the closing days of the legislative session.

Why it matters

This case highlights the ongoing debate over who qualifies as a 'bona fide journalist' and should be granted access to state legislative proceedings. Legislatures across the country have grappled with how to address the changing media landscape, as traditional journalists are joined by podcasters, bloggers, and other online content creators.

The details

The three individuals - Ari Hoffman, Brandi Kruse, and Jonathan Choe - were denied press credentials by the Democratic-controlled Washington House of Representatives because they were seen as 'participants in the political arena' rather than independent observers. The House said the group was not eligible for press passes under the Capitol Correspondents Association's guidelines, which require 'a line between professional journalism and political or policy work.' The group argued the process was vague and arbitrary, but the judge ruled they failed to show they were denied access due to their political views or that the process was unfair.

  • The Washington House of Representatives denied the press pass requests early in 2026.
  • The group filed their federal lawsuit and request for a temporary restraining order on Monday, March 10, 2026.
  • The judge issued his ruling denying the restraining order on Tuesday, March 11, 2026.

The players

Ari Hoffman

Host of the 'Seattle's Conservative Talk' show on AM 570 KVI.

Brandi Kruse

Host of the podcast 'unDivided'.

Jonathan Choe

A senior fellow at the Discovery Institute, a conservative think tank.

Washington House of Representatives

The Democratic-controlled state legislative body that denied the press pass requests.

U.S. District Judge David Estudillo

The federal judge who ruled on the case.

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What they’re saying

“In the remaining 72 hours of the legislative session, the House will potentially be wrestling with a multibillion-dollar budget and other legislation of great importance. My clients are the eyes and ears of the people in the legislative process. Their voices and opinions should not be excluded.”

— Jackson Maynard, Lawyer for the group

“The court acknowledges that both parties have legitimate interests at stake here. But denying the temporary restraining order is appropriate because the three failed to show that they are likely to succeed on their free press or due process claims, and the House has a substantial interest in ensuring the reporters it permits to access the House floor meet the credential standards promulgated so the House may 'debate and pass laws without interruption or lobbying in that space.'”

— U.S. District Judge David Estudillo

“It's also important to understand that the plaintiffs here were not just attending an event, which obviously journalists do all the time. They were the leaders of these events that they attended. They were their keynote speakers. They have attached their names and their fame and notoriety to trying to get these ... laws passed by the legislature.”

— Jessica Goldman, Lawyer for the Washington House of Representatives

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing challenges legislatures face in determining who qualifies as a 'journalist' deserving of special access, as the media landscape continues to evolve with the rise of podcasters, bloggers, and other online content creators. The ruling suggests that lawmakers can set reasonable credential standards as long as the process is not arbitrary or based on political viewpoints.