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

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

Nearly one month prior, the entire District of Columbia appeals court declined to reconsider that decision.

This case is the latest in a series of disputes related to executive power to place chosen leaders at government agencies.

The High Court has mostly permitted such actions, even as legal disputes continue.

However, this specific matter involves an bureau inside the national library. Perlmutter serves as the register of copyrights and also advises Congress on intellectual property matters.

The solicitor general, D John Sauer, stated in the legal document that, despite ties to the legislative branch, the register “wields executive power” in regulating intellectual property rights.

Perlmutter alleges she was terminated in May because the ex-leader disagreed with recommendations she gave to Congress in a report related to AI.

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

A divided appellate panel ruled that Perlmutter could retain her job while the legal dispute proceeds.

“The Executive's claimed obvious interference with the duties of a Legislative Branch official, as she performs legally authorized duties to counsel Congress, appears to be a violation of the separation of powers,” wrote Judge Florence Pan for the appellate panel.

Justice J Michelle Childs joined the opinion. Both judges were nominated to the appellate court by Democratic President Joe Biden.

In opposition, Justice Justin Walker, a former president's nominee, argued that Perlmutter “uses executive authority in a host of manners.”

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

The ex-leader named deputy attorney general Todd Blanche to replace Hayden at the Library of Congress. The administration had dismissed Hayden following criticism from right-leaning groups that she was promoting a “progressive” agenda.