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The former leader's administration on Monday requested the US Supreme Court to allow the termination of the director of the American copyright authority.

This emergency request follows about a month and a half after a national appeals court in Washington ruled that the director, Shira Perlmutter, could not be solely fired.

Almost four weeks ago, the entire District of Columbia circuit court declined to reconsider that ruling.

This legal matter is the latest in a series of cases related to presidential authority to place preferred heads at government agencies.

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

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

The government's top lawyer, D John Sauer, argued in the legal document that, despite ties to Congress, the register “wields executive power” in overseeing copyrights.

Perlmutter claims she was fired in May because the ex-leader disapproved with advice she gave to Congress in a document concerning artificial intelligence.

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

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

“The Executive's claimed blatant meddling with the work of a Legislative Branch official, as she carries out legally approved responsibilities to counsel Congress, strikes us as a breach of the separation of powers,” wrote Judge Florence Pan for the appellate panel.

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

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

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

The former president appointed assistant attorney general Todd Blanche to replace Hayden at the national library. The White House had fired Hayden following criticism from right-leaning groups that she was promoting a “woke” agenda.