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The ex- leader's government on Monday requested the nation's highest court to permit the termination of the director of the US Copyright Office.

This urgent appeal follows about a month and a half after a national appellate court in Washington ruled that the director, Shira Perlmutter, could not be unilaterally fired.

Nearly four weeks prior, the full District of Columbia appeals court declined to review that ruling.

This legal matter is the latest in a series of cases related to executive power to appoint chosen leaders at government agencies.

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

However, this specific case involves an office inside the Library of Congress. Perlmutter serves as the register of copyrights and also counsels Congress on copyright matters.

The government's top lawyer, D John Sauer, argued in the legal document that, regardless of ties to Congress, the register “exercises executive authority” in overseeing intellectual property rights.

Perlmutter claims she was terminated in May because the former president disagreed with advice she gave to lawmakers in a document related to artificial intelligence.

She allegedly received an message from the administration notifying her that her role was “terminated effective immediately,” as stated by her office.

A split appellate group decided that Perlmutter could retain her position while the case proceeds.

“The Executive's claimed blatant interference with the work of a Legislative Branch officer, as she carries out statutorily authorized duties to advise the legislature, appears to be a breach of the separation of powers,” stated Judge Florence Pan for the appellate panel.

Justice J Michelle Childs joined the ruling. Both judges were nominated to the appeals court by Democratic President Joe Biden.

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

Perlmutter's lawyers have argued that she is a well-known intellectual property expert. She has acted as register of copyrights since former head librarian Carla Hayden selected her to the position in October 2020.

The ex-leader appointed assistant attorney general Todd Blanche to succeed Hayden at the Library of Congress. The White House had dismissed Hayden following complaints from right-leaning groups that she was advancing a “woke” agenda.