Bloomberg Law SCOTUS Not Likely to Allow Trump to Fire Fed's Lisa Cook
Jan 22, 2026
David Super, a constitutional law professor at Georgetown, analyzes Supreme Court skepticism regarding President Trump's attempt to fire Fed Governor Lisa Cook, emphasizing the importance of Fed independence. Haley Lawrence, Executive Director of the Duke Center for Firearms Law, discusses Hawaii's law on carrying firearms, contrasting it with Second Amendment rights. The conversation dives into the implications of both cases for future legal precedents and the ongoing debate about property versus public carry rights.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Court Wary Of Undermining Fed Independence
- The Supreme Court seemed unlikely to allow President Trump to be the first to fire a sitting Fed governor.
- Justices worried such a move would undermine Federal Reserve independence and roil markets.
For-Cause Protects Job-Based Removal
- The Federal Reserve Act protects governors with removal 'for cause,' limiting presidential firing power.
- David Super emphasized that cause must relate to job performance, not pre-appointment conduct.
Tweets Aren't A Substitute For A Hearing
- The justices doubted that Trump's social media posts constituted formal notice or an adequate hearing.
- Amy Coney Barrett and others questioned why a face-to-face hearing wouldn't resolve concerns.