Washington, D.C. – The U.S. Supreme Court issued a ruling today that will reinstate unlawfully-fired Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, who President Trump attempted to remove from office without due process. The decision is a defeat for the president’s fiscal and political agenda.
Lawyer and historian Jed Shugerman filed a friend-of-the-court brief opposing the Trump-Vance administration’s application for a stay in the case, explaining that roles like Cook’s historically could not be terminated without the procedural protections of fair notice and meaningful process. Shugerman was represented in his brief by Democracy Forward.
“We are grateful that the Court’s decision fully and finally reinstates Governor Cook, who was unlawfully fired by the president in yet another autocratic move to target people he doesn’t like,” said Skye Perryman, President and CEO of Democracy Forward. “Today’s decision affirms that the president cannot fire members of the Federal Reserve without cause and without following appropriate procedures, as required by law. The Federal Reserve was designed to be led by experts with steady leadership, so their decisions are guided by evidence and the long-term public interest, not by the political interests of any particular president. The president’s actions made people in the United States less financially secure – and we are grateful the Court put a stop to it.”
The Trump-Vance administration had asked the Supreme Court for a stay of district and appellate court decisions that would allow it to remove Cook from her post while the merits of her case were heard. On October 1, the Court deferred the stay application and allowed Cook to remain in her post while she challenges Trump’s ability to dismiss her, breaking with its recent trend of allowing President Trump’s firings to go into effect at least temporarily.
The legal team from Democracy Forward on this matter includes Ayesha Khan and Andrew Bookbinder.
To read today’s decision, click here.
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Democracy Forward is a national legal organization that advances democracy and social progress through litigation, policy, public education, and regulatory engagement. For more information, please visit www.democracyforward.org.
