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The former leader's administration on Monday requested the US Supreme Court to allow the removal of the head of the US Copyright Office.

This emergency appeal comes about a month and a half after a federal appellate court in Washington decided that the official, Shira Perlmutter, cannot be solely fired.

Almost one month ago, the full District of Columbia appeals court declined to reconsider that decision.

This case is the latest in a series of cases related to presidential authority to appoint chosen leaders at government agencies.

The Supreme Court has mostly allowed such dismissals, even as legal disputes proceed.

However, this particular matter involves an office inside the national library. Perlmutter acts as the register of copyrights and also advises the legislature on copyright matters.

The government's top lawyer, D John Sauer, argued in the filing that, regardless of connections to Congress, the director “exercises administrative power” in overseeing copyrights.

Perlmutter claims she was terminated in May because the ex-leader disapproved with recommendations she gave to lawmakers in a report related to artificial intelligence.

She reportedly received an message from the White House notifying her that her position was “terminated effective at once,” as stated by her office.

A divided appeals court group decided that Perlmutter could keep her job while the legal dispute proceeds.

“The administration's alleged blatant interference with the duties of a congressional officer, as she carries out statutorily authorized duties to advise the legislature, appears to be a violation of the separation of powers,” stated Justice Florence Pan for the appeals court.

Judge J Michelle Childs joined the opinion. Both justices were appointed to the appellate court by Democrat leader Joe Biden.

In opposition, Justice Justin Walker, a Trump appointee, wrote that Perlmutter “uses executive authority in a host of ways.”

Perlmutter's lawyers have contended that she is a renowned copyright specialist. She has acted as copyright director since former librarian of Congress Carla Hayden selected her to the role in October 2020.

The ex-leader named assistant attorney general Todd Blanche to replace Hayden at the Library of Congress. The White House had fired Hayden amid complaints from right-leaning groups that she was advancing a “progressive” program.