🔗 Share this article Former President Trump's Team Seeks Supreme Court Approval to Dismiss Leading Intellectual Property Director The ex- president's government on Monday requested the nation's highest court to allow the termination of the director of the American copyright authority. This urgent appeal follows roughly six weeks after a national appeals court in Washington ruled that the director, Shira Perlmutter, could not be unilaterally fired. Almost four weeks ago, the full District of Columbia circuit court declined to review that ruling. This legal matter is the most recent in a line of disputes concerning executive authority to appoint preferred heads at federal agencies. The Supreme Court has generally allowed such dismissals, even as legal challenges proceed. However, this specific matter involves an office inside the Library of Congress. Perlmutter serves as the copyright registrar and also counsels the legislature on copyright matters. The government's top lawyer, D John Sauer, argued in the filing that, regardless of connections to the legislative branch, the register “wields administrative authority” in regulating intellectual property rights. Perlmutter claims she was fired in May because the former president disapproved with recommendations she provided to Congress in a document concerning artificial intelligence. She allegedly received an message from the administration informing her that her position was “ended starting immediately,” according to her office. A split appeals court panel decided that Perlmutter could retain her job while the legal dispute proceeds. “The administration's alleged blatant interference with the work of a congressional official, as she carries out statutorily authorized responsibilities to counsel Congress, strikes us as a breach of the separation of powers,” stated Justice Florence Pan for the appeals court. Justice J Michelle Childs supported the opinion. Both judges were appointed to the appeals court by Democrat President Joe Biden. In dissent, Justice Justin Walker, a former president's nominee, argued that Perlmutter “exercises executive authority in a variety of ways.” Perlmutter's attorneys have argued that she is a well-known copyright specialist. She has served as register of copyrights since ex- head librarian Carla Hayden selected her to the role in October 2020. The former president named assistant attorney general Todd Blanche to replace Hayden at the Library of Congress. The White House had dismissed Hayden amid complaints from right-leaning groups that she was advancing a “progressive” agenda.