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The former leader's administration on Monday requested the nation's highest court to allow the removal of the head of the US Copyright Office.

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

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

This legal matter is the most recent in a series of cases concerning executive power to place chosen leaders at federal agencies.

The High Court has generally allowed such dismissals, even as court disputes proceed.

However, this specific matter involves an bureau inside the national library. Perlmutter acts as the register of copyrights and also advises the legislature on copyright issues.

The government's top lawyer, D John Sauer, stated in the filing that, despite connections to Congress, the register “wields administrative authority” in overseeing intellectual property rights.

Perlmutter alleges she was fired in May because the former president disagreed with advice she provided to Congress in a report concerning artificial intelligence.

She allegedly received an email from the administration informing her that her position was “terminated starting at once,” according to her office.

A divided appellate panel decided that Perlmutter could keep her job while the legal dispute moves forward.

“The Executive's alleged blatant interference with the duties of a congressional officer, as she performs statutorily approved responsibilities to counsel Congress, strikes us as a violation of the division of government authority,” wrote Justice Florence Pan for the appeals court.

Justice J Michelle Childs joined the ruling. Both judges were appointed to the appellate court by Democrat leader Joe Biden.

In dissent, Judge Justin Walker, a former president's nominee, wrote that Perlmutter “exercises administrative authority in a host of ways.”

Perlmutter's lawyers have contended that she is a renowned copyright expert. She has served as register of copyrights since ex- librarian of Congress Carla Hayden selected her to the position in October 2020.

The ex-leader appointed assistant attorney general Todd Blanche to replace Hayden at the national library. The administration had dismissed Hayden amid complaints from right-leaning groups that she was promoting a “woke” agenda.