A federal judge on Tuesday ordered the government to restore Cathy A. Harris to her position on the Merit Systems Protection Board, saying it appears President Trump’s attempt to fire her was illegal.

The MSPB handles disputes between the government and its employees.

U.S. District Judge Rudolph Contreras said the way he reads the law, MSPB members can only be fired for “good cause.” Mr. Trump did not detail that reasoning in firing Ms. Harris.

“The court thus concludes that Harris has demonstrated that she is likely to show her termination as a member of the MSPB was unlawful,” the judge ruled.

He said the case falls clearly within a 90-year-old precedent, the Humphrey’s Executor case, which limited a president’s firing powers when it comes to “independent” agencies such as the MSPB.

His ruling Tuesday was a temporary restraining order, which keeps Ms. Harris on the job for now while the arguments in her case are developed.

Ms. Harris is one of a number of federal agency leaders whom Mr. Trump ousted in his early efforts to remake the federal bureaucracy.

Special Counsel Hampton Dellinger also challenged his firing and won a temporary restraining order. The Trump administration has asked the Supreme Court to get involved and lift the restraining order.

• Stephen Dinan can be reached at sdinan@washingtontimes.com.