US appeals court reinstates Copyright Office director fired by Trump

Illustration shows U.S. flag and Judge gavel

(Corrects reasoning for lower court’s decision in paragraph 1)

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -A Washington, D.C.-based federal appeals court on Wednesday blocked President Donald Trump from firing U.S. Copyright Office director Shira Perlmutter while she appeals a lower court’s ruling against her attempt to stop the administration from terminating her.

In a 2-1 decision, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit granted Perlmutter’s request to reinstate her to the position temporarily and said Trump’s move to terminate her may have been unlawful.

(Reporting by Blake Brittain in Washington; Editing by Mark Porter)