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

This urgent appeal follows about six weeks after a federal appellate court in Washington ruled that the director, Shira Perlmutter, cannot be solely dismissed.

Almost four weeks prior, the full District of Columbia circuit court refused to review that ruling.

This legal matter is the latest in a line of cases related to presidential power to place preferred heads at federal agencies.

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

However, this particular case concerns an office inside the Library of Congress. Perlmutter serves as the register of copyrights and also advises the legislature on intellectual property issues.

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

Perlmutter claims she was terminated in May because the former president disapproved with advice she provided to Congress in a document concerning artificial intelligence.

She allegedly got an email from the administration notifying her that her position was “terminated effective at once,” as stated by her office.

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

“The administration's alleged obvious interference with the work of a congressional official, as she carries out statutorily approved duties to counsel Congress, appears to be a violation of the division of government authority,” wrote Judge Florence Pan for the appeals court.

Judge J Michelle Childs supported the opinion. Both justices were nominated to the appellate court by Democratic President Joe Biden.

In dissent, Justice Justin Walker, a former president's nominee, wrote that Perlmutter “uses administrative power in a variety of ways.”

Perlmutter's attorneys have contended that she is a renowned intellectual property expert. She has acted as register of copyrights since ex- librarian of Congress Carla Hayden appointed her to the role in October 2020.

The former president appointed deputy attorney general Todd Blanche to replace Hayden at the Library of Congress. The White House had dismissed Hayden amid criticism from right-leaning groups that she was promoting a “progressive” program.