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The ex- leader's government on Monday requested the US Supreme Court to allow the removal of the director of the US Copyright Office.

This urgent request follows about a month and a half after a federal appeals court in Washington decided that the official, Shira Perlmutter, could not be unilaterally dismissed.

Nearly one month ago, the entire District of Columbia circuit court refused to review that decision.

This case is the latest in a series of disputes concerning presidential authority to appoint preferred leaders at government agencies.

The Supreme Court has generally allowed such dismissals, even as court disputes continue.

However, this specific matter involves an bureau within the Library of Congress. Perlmutter serves as the register of copyrights and also counsels Congress on intellectual property issues.

The solicitor general, D John Sauer, stated in the filing that, regardless of connections to the legislative branch, the director “wields executive authority” in overseeing copyrights.

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

She reportedly got an email from the administration notifying her that her role was “terminated effective immediately,” as stated by her office.

A split appellate panel decided that Perlmutter could keep her position while the legal dispute moves forward.

“The Executive's claimed obvious meddling with the duties of a Legislative Branch official, as she performs legally approved responsibilities to advise Congress, appears to be a breach of the division of government authority,” stated Justice Florence Pan for the appellate panel.

Justice J Michelle Childs joined the ruling. Both justices were appointed to the appeals court by Democratic leader Joe Biden.

In opposition, Justice Justin Walker, a former president's nominee, argued that Perlmutter “exercises executive authority in a variety of ways.”

Perlmutter's lawyers have contended that she is a well-known intellectual property specialist. She has acted as register of copyrights since ex- head librarian Carla Hayden appointed her to the role in October 2020.

The former president appointed assistant attorney general Todd Blanche to replace Hayden at the Library of Congress. The administration had fired Hayden following complaints from right-leaning groups that she was promoting a “woke” program.