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The former leader's government on Monday petitioned the US Supreme Court to allow the removal of the director of the American copyright authority.

This urgent request comes about a month and a half after a national appellate court in Washington decided that the director, Shira Perlmutter, cannot be unilaterally fired.

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

This legal matter is the most recent in a line of cases related to presidential power to appoint preferred leaders at government agencies.

The High Court has mostly permitted such actions, even as court challenges continue.

However, this specific matter concerns an office within the Library of Congress. Perlmutter acts as the copyright registrar and also advises the legislature on copyright matters.

The solicitor general, D John Sauer, stated in the legal document that, regardless of connections to Congress, the register “exercises administrative authority” in overseeing copyrights.

Perlmutter claims she was fired in May because the ex-leader disagreed with recommendations she gave to Congress in a document related to AI.

She allegedly received an message from the administration informing her that her position was “ended effective immediately,” according to her office.

A split appellate panel ruled that Perlmutter could retain her job while the legal dispute proceeds.

“The Executive's claimed obvious meddling with the work of a Legislative Branch officer, as she carries out statutorily authorized responsibilities to advise the legislature, strikes us as a breach of the separation of powers,” stated Judge Florence Pan for the appeals court.

Justice J Michelle Childs supported the ruling. Both judges were appointed to the appellate court by Democrat President Joe Biden.

In dissent, Justice Justin Walker, a Trump appointee, argued that Perlmutter “uses administrative power in a variety of manners.”

Perlmutter's attorneys have argued that she is a well-known copyright specialist. She has acted as register of copyrights since former librarian of Congress Carla Hayden appointed her to the role in October 2020.

The former president appointed deputy 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.