A judge appointed by Barack Obama ruled that Donald Trump can remove Special Counsel Hampton Dellinger while his case proceeds in appeals court.

Dellinger, initially appointed by Joe Biden to handle federal whistleblower cases, was dismissed via a brief email when Trump returned to office.

U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson had temporarily reinstated Dellinger, but a three-judge panel from the D.C. Court of Appeals overturned her ruling on March 5, allowing the dismissal to stand. The panel included judges appointed by George H.W. Bush, Obama, and Trump. The court stated Trump met the legal threshold for removing executive officers. Jackson criticized the administration’s claim that reinstating Dellinger would cause disruption, suggesting the White House caused the chaos. The case has been prioritized by the court, with briefs due in March and April. Republicans and conservative media praised the decision, while liberal commentators expressed frustration online.