🔗 Share this article Former President Trump's Administration Seeks High Court Permission to Fire Top Intellectual Property Director The ex- leader's administration on Monday petitioned the US Supreme Court to allow the termination of the director of the American copyright authority. This urgent appeal follows roughly six weeks after a national appellate court in Washington ruled that the director, Shira Perlmutter, cannot be solely fired. Nearly four weeks ago, the entire District of Columbia circuit court declined to review that ruling. This legal matter is the latest in a line of cases related to presidential power to appoint chosen leaders at federal offices. The Supreme Court has generally allowed such actions, even as legal challenges continue. However, this specific case concerns an bureau within the Library of Congress. 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, regardless of ties to Congress, the register “wields administrative power” in overseeing copyrights. Perlmutter alleges she was fired in May because the former president disagreed with advice she gave to Congress in a report concerning AI. She allegedly received an message from the administration informing her that her position was “terminated effective immediately,” according to her staff. A split appellate group ruled that Perlmutter could retain her job while the legal dispute proceeds. “The administration's alleged obvious meddling with the work of a congressional official, as she performs legally authorized duties to advise the legislature, appears to be a violation of the separation of powers,” wrote Justice Florence Pan for the appellate panel. Justice J Michelle Childs supported the ruling. Both justices were nominated to the appellate court by Democratic President Joe Biden. In dissent, Justice Justin Walker, a Trump appointee, argued that Perlmutter “exercises administrative authority in a host of ways.” Perlmutter's attorneys have argued that she is a well-known copyright expert. She has acted as register of copyrights since ex- librarian of Congress Carla Hayden appointed her to the position in October 2020. The ex-leader named assistant attorney general Todd Blanche to succeed Hayden at the national library. The administration had dismissed Hayden following complaints from right-leaning groups that she was advancing a “woke” agenda.