A federal judge in Washington, D.C., placed a decisive check on President Donald Trump’s attempt to fire Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook late Tuesday night, granting a preliminary injunction that protects her position at least for now.

The ruling, issued by U.S. District Judge Jia Cobb, underscores the gravity of the fight over the independence of the nation’s central bank and the lengths to which Trump is prepared to go to assert political control over its decisions. On Wednesday, the Justice Department confirmed Trump’s intent to appeal the ruling, ensuring that the legal and political battle will continue.

At the heart of this case lies the question of whether the president can dismiss a sitting governor of the Federal Reserve based on contested, pre-appointment allegations. Under

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