A federal judge has ruled that President Donald Trump illegally fired special counsel Hampton Dellinger and issued an order preventing the administration from interfering with his duties.

U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson declared the February 7 firing “unlawful” and “null and void,” stating that Mr. Dellinger must remain in his position for the remainder of his five-year term unless removed according to proper legal procedures.

The ruling represents a significant setback for the Trump administration, which immediately filed an appeal. The case centers on Mr. Dellinger’s efforts to block the president’s attempts to fire “probationary” federal workers as part of a broader reshaping of the federal bureaucracy.

Judge Jackson’s sweeping injunction specifically prohibits the administration from obstructing Mr. Dellinger’s work or appointing an acting special counsel to undermine his authority. She emphasized that Mr. Dellinger, an Obama appointee, can only be removed for cause under federal law.

The Trump Justice Department argues that the judge has imposed unconstitutional limits on presidential power to oversee the executive branch. They contend that Mr. Dellinger exercises core executive powers that must remain under presidential control and is actively thwarting the president’s agenda by opposing the firing of probationary employees.

However, Judge Jackson concluded that Mr. Dellinger’s position is unique, as he answers not only to the president but also to Congress and the public. She wrote that allowing his firing would give the president “a constitutional license to bully officials in the executive branch into doing his will.”

As special counsel, Mr. Dellinger’s responsibilities include policing Hatch Act violations, supporting government whistleblowers, and investigating inappropriate personnel actions against federal employees. He has challenged the firing of six probationary employees and secured a 45-day pause on those terminations from the Merit Systems Protection Board.

The case is expected to proceed to the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia and potentially reach the Supreme Court afterward. The high court previously held the case in abeyance to allow Judge Jackson time to issue a formal ruling.

Congressional Democrats, led by Rep. Ayana Pressley, have urged Mr. Dellinger to remain firm against removal efforts and expand his protection to more federal workers. According to congressional Democrats, the Trump administration has already fired approximately 38,000 federal employees.

Read more: Judge rules Trump broke the law in firing key government watchdog

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The Washington Times AI Ethics Newsroom Committee can be reached at aispotlight@washingtontimes.com.