A federal judge ruled on Wednesday that the head of a federal ethics watchdog agency, who was fired by President Donald Trump last week, can continue in his role while the legal battle over his termination unfolds.
The judge, Amy Berman Jackson, granted a temporary restraining order requested by Hampton Dellinger, the ousted Special Counsel, after issuing an administrative order earlier in the week that temporarily halted the firing process.
The US Office of Special Counsel, where Dellinger served, is an independent agency separate from the special counsels appointed to oversee Justice Department investigations.
In her 27-page opinion, Judge Jackson emphasized the importance of independence for Special Counsels to effectively carry out their duties and reporting obligations as outlined in the statute.
This legal challenge is one of several cases brought by officials dismissed by President Trump that will test the extent of a president's authority to remove heads of independent agencies. The Trump administration has shown a willingness to escalate the matter to higher courts, having appealed Judge Jackson's initial stay earlier in the week.
In response to the court's decision, Dellinger expressed gratitude for the rulings that allow him to continue his work as Special Counsel.
Judge Jackson has outlined a timeline that could lead to a decision on whether to issue a preliminary injunction to reverse Dellinger's firing by the end of the month, with the possibility of immediate appeal.
In her ruling, Judge Jackson criticized the Trump administration's argument that reinstating Dellinger would disrupt the agency's operations, pointing out that any disruption was caused by the White House's actions.
She metaphorically likened the situation to a bull in a china shop causing chaos and then expressing surprise at the mess created.
