A federal district judge based in Washington, D.C., made a significant ruling late Saturday regarding President Donald Trump’s decision to fire Hampton Dellinger, the head of the Office of Special Counsel. The judge declared the firing unlawful, which means Dellinger will remain in his position for now. Following this decision, the Trump administration promptly filed an appeal.
Hampton Dellinger, who was appointed by former President Joe Biden, took legal action against the Trump administration after his termination on February 7. Judge Amy Berman Jackson, in her ruling, emphasized that the court’s decision aligns with established Supreme Court principles regarding the independence of the Office of Special Counsel.
The Trump administration quickly responded to the ruling by appealing to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. In her ruling, Jackson expressed concern that easing restrictions on removing the Special Counsel would undermine the very independence that Congress intended when establishing the office.
Judge Jackson issued an order preventing key officials, including those from the Office of Management and Budget and the Treasury Department, from interfering with Dellinger’s duties. However, it is notable that Jackson did not include Trump in this injunction.
Jackson pointed out the irony of allowing the Special Counsel to be removed in a manner that could inhibit his unbiased work. She specified that the defendants must respect Dellinger’s role and ensure he is not treated as if he has been fired unless proper legal procedures are followed.
This ruling comes after the U.S. Supreme Court temporarily halted the administration’s attempt to fire Dellinger, marking the first legal battle of Trump’s second term to reach the Supreme Court. Justices Neil Gorsuch and Samuel Alito dissented from the ruling, indicating that they believed the lower court’s actions overstepped its authority, and questioned whether courts should restore an official removed by the president.
Meanwhile, Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Ketanji Brown Jackson voted against the administration’s request, supporting the decision to keep Dellinger in his role during this dispute.
Dellinger expressed his relief at the ruling, noting that it allows him to continue his work as an independent advocate for whistleblowers and government accountability. He maintains that he can only be removed from his post for specific job performance issues, which were not cited in his dismissal email.
