In the lawsuit filed last week, America First Legal (AFL) argued that the Judicial Conference of the U.S. and the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts — two key judicial branch bodies that frame policy and handle the basic functions of the federal courts — are executive branch agencies.

“Such agencies must be overseen by the President, not the courts,” the group, represented by attorney Will Scolinos, claimed, adding that the lawsuit “preserves the separation of powers but also keeps the courts out of politics.”

The Judicial Conference is a policymaking body for the lower federal courts established by Congress to promote public confidence in the integrity and impartiality of the judiciary. The Administrative office handles the nuts and bolts of the federal judiciary, like budgets and organizing court data....

Miller’s group named Roberts as a defendant because the Judicial Conference is headed by the chief justice. It named Robert Conrad, director of the Administrative Office, as a defendant.

“Recently, the media and liberal lawmakers have sought to undermine the political independence of Article III Courts,” the lawsuit reads.

The lawsuit is a continuation of the Trump administration’s extensive effort to break down the separation of powers and usurp the constitutional powers of the other federal branches. In targeting the conference and administrative office, AFL is threatening both the courts’ independence and Congress’s authority to organize courts below the Supreme Court.

This is the second time AFL has attempted to FOIA the Judicial Conference and the Administrative Office. Last year, the group’s FOIA suit against the bodies quickly failed after the Supreme Court’s legal counsel said the information act did not apply to judicial branch entities.