A federal judge on Wednesday denied Shira Perlmutter’s request to block the Trump administration’s attempt to fire her from her position as the register of copyrights.
In a case that implicates the Constitution’s separation of powers and President Donald Trump’s ongoing efforts to expand the White House’s authority, U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly ruled that Perlmutter did not meet the “high burden” required for the court to issue a temporary restraining order blocking her termination.
Located within the Library of Congress, the U.S. Copyright Office performs the role of processing applications and administering the copyright system. The librarian of Congress has the statutory authority to appoint the register of copyrights, but earlier this month Trump fired the librarian and then attempted to fire Perlmutter, who filed a lawsuit last week challenging her dismissal.
