Though Hovland nixed the order, he was blatantly critical of the protests.

"To suggest that all of the protest activities to date have been 'peaceful' and 'lawful' defies common sense and reality," he wrote, mentioning incidents of vandalism, trespass and verbal taunts toward law enforcement. "Nearly every day, the citizens of North Dakota are inundated with images of 'peaceful' protesters engaging in mindless and senseless criminal mayhem."

Nearly 70 people have been arrested on protest-related allegations, including seven on felony charges.

Hovland linked some of the recent crime to "troublesome 'peaceful protesters'" from out-of-state, who he wrote have "hidden agendas vastly different and far removed from the legitimate interests of Native Americans of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe who are actually impacted by the pipeline project."

On Thursday, Purdon, on behalf of Archambault and Yellow Fat, also asked Hovland to dismiss the suit against the protesters. He argued the company lost the foundation of its case when the federal government announced last week it would not authorize construction under the river at this time.

"Dakota Access' claims, through its complaint, that it has the legal right to construct the pipeline are now false," he wrote.