Overview
- In a 2–1 ruling, the D.C. Circuit granted an injunction pending appeal that returns Shira Perlmutter to her job as Register of Copyrights.
- The court enjoined Todd Blanche, Paul Perkins, Sergio Gor, Trent Morse, and the Executive Office of the President from interfering with her service.
- The majority said the Register is a legislative‑branch official and concluded the president has no statutory power to remove her, calling the attempted ouster a likely separation‑of‑powers violation.
- Judges also said Blanche’s installation as acting Librarian of Congress was likely unlawful because the federal vacancies law cited applies to executive agencies, not the Library of Congress.
- Judge Justin Walker dissented, arguing Perlmutter exercises executive power and citing recent Supreme Court stays, as the case—triggered after her AI training report—heads toward possible en banc or Supreme Court review.