The Associated Press has requested a hearing before the full U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington to challenge a recent ruling that permitted the Trump administration to restrict AP’s access to certain presidential events. The case, spanning four months, has sparked a debate on the extent of journalistic access to the presidency under the First Amendment.

In a 2-1 decision, a panel of three judges allowed the Trump administration to bar AP journalists from small events like those in the Oval Office, citing the news outlet’s refusal to comply with Trump’s request to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America. The AP had initially secured a ruling in its favor from a lower court, arguing that the administration was unfairly penalizing it for its editorial stance.

AP spokesperson Patrick Maks criticized the panel’s decision, stating that it enables the White House to discriminate against media organizations based on content, a violation of the First Amendment. By seeking a rehearing before the full court, the AP aims to defend a fundamental American principle.

The composition of the full court, consisting of nine members appointed by Democratic presidents and six by Republicans, could potentially influence the outcome. The AP, a renowned wire service with global reach, had historically been part of a select pool covering presidential events in constrained spaces. However, access for AP text reporters has been curtailed, with only photographers routinely granted entry to such events.