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

This urgent request comes roughly six weeks after a national appeals court in Washington decided that the director, Shira Perlmutter, could not be unilaterally fired.

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

This case is the most recent in a series of cases related to executive authority to appoint preferred heads at federal offices.

The Supreme Court has mostly permitted such dismissals, even as court challenges continue.

However, this particular case concerns an office within the national library. Perlmutter acts as the register of copyrights and also advises Congress on copyright issues.

The solicitor general, D John Sauer, stated in the filing that, despite ties to Congress, the director “wields executive authority” in overseeing intellectual property rights.

Perlmutter alleges she was fired in May because the ex-leader disapproved with recommendations she provided to lawmakers in a report related to AI.

She reportedly received an message from the White House notifying her that her role was “terminated effective at once,” according to her staff.

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

“The Executive's claimed obvious interference with the work of a congressional officer, as she carries out legally authorized responsibilities to counsel Congress, appears to be a violation of the division of government authority,” stated Judge Florence Pan for the appeals court.

Justice J Michelle Childs supported the ruling. Both judges were nominated to the appellate court by Democratic leader Joe Biden.

In dissent, Judge Justin Walker, a Trump appointee, argued that Perlmutter “uses executive power in a variety of ways.”

Perlmutter's lawyers have argued that she is a well-known intellectual property specialist. She has served as copyright director since former librarian of Congress Carla Hayden appointed her to the role in October 2020.

The ex-leader named deputy attorney general Todd Blanche to succeed Hayden at the Library of Congress. The administration had dismissed Hayden amid complaints from conservatives that she was advancing a “progressive” agenda.