A U.S. District Court judge has denied a preliminary injunction in the case of Jessica Calderon, the Denver city employee who won a temporary restraining order preventing the City and County of Denver from terminating her amid the 2025 citywide layoffs.

In a court order dated Wednesday, Judge Nina Y. Wang denied Calderon’s injunction and vacated the temporary restraining order halting her termination as a city employee.

“The City Attorney’s Office appreciates the judge’s decision to deny Ms. Calderon’s motion and her findings regarding the merits-based decision concerning her employment,” a spokesperson for the Denver City Attorney’s Office told The Denver Gazette. “This ruling enables the City and its Office of Social Equity and Innovation to return critical resources to their work and the communities they serve.”           

Calderon, who served as director of operations and innovation in the Mayor’s Office of Social Equity & Innovation, alleges she and other city employees were “deliberately targeted” as the city shed workers in August 2025 to remedy its looming financial woes.

Calderon told The Denver Gazette that before her termination, she had a 22-year history as a “successful and outstanding employee,” as documented by her reviews.

Calderon said she loved working for the city.

“I worked hard, earned awards and received consistent positive and outstanding performance reviews,” Calderon said. “All of my claims remain in the lawsuit. I am confident in my case, and my attorney and I look forward to moving ahead and completing the case.”

Calderon, who has been on paid administrative leave, was notified of her termination on July 29, 2026, the date of the order.

This story has been updated to accurately reflect the number of years of Calderon’s employment with the city.