I've just read a news story stating that a State official has dismissed another official for being unlawfully appointed by the Trump admonistration, and this got me thinking. Were there similar cases where the Nazis overstepped their bounds prior to their majorities and seizure of power, where there was pushback from the establishment, or did the party's officials largely follow protocol and play a safe game until they had the upper hand? I'm aware of acts like the Beer Hall Putsch and the activities of the SA but I'm interested specifically in party members and officials who may have held elected office or powerful positions such as in courts or in ministries and agencies, and whether there was any great controversy around them?
Not really? At least nothing to the degree of the example you mentioned. Because the NSDAP was never really in power prior to 1933.
The NSDAP only seriously entered electoral politics in 1924 after the mess of a Putsch. And for much of its early days the Party was nowhere close to being the leader of the even political Right (that position was occupied by the DNVP). The NSDAP won its first landslide victory only in 1930, becoming the second largest party but even that was only 18%. Then for the next two years Brüning was in charge as Chancellor and did a generally decent job holding back the NSDAP at the national level, but the Nazis still gained votes in local elections.
In 1932 Hitler runs against Hindenburg for President but lost. There are contacts between the Weimar conservative establishment (Hindenburg & co.) and Hitler, but much of it is done behind closed doors. Also instead of pushbacks, the estalishment is more keen on allying with the Nazis and use their influence against the leftists (SPD is still the largest party, and the communist KPD is also gaining votes).
Boom in 1932 the NSDAP finally becomes the largest political party, but it still does not have a majority. At this point the conservative establishment begins to lose out in the ballots, and in an ironic twist of fate, the Weimar democracy is now a choice between the Nazis and the communists. Hitler asks for Chancellorship again, but is rejected by the Schleicher, Hindenburg’s righthand man.
In the Nov 1932 election, the NSDAP actually loses vote for the first time since 1928. KDP however gains more vote and looks like it might become the largest party. The conservative establishment absolutely panics and reaches out to Hitler and proposes a joint cabinet, giving 3 seats to the NSDAP. On 30 Jan 1933, Hindenburg appoints Hitler as Chancellor. This is the first time the Nazis actually get into power.
At this point the conservative establishment still believes that they could control Hitler. The KPD on the other hand also doesn't really think much of the Nazis and is more concerned with fighting against the SPD (classic leftist politics?).
Then, Hitler asks Hindenburg for emergency powers. Comes Feburary with the Reichstag Fire and the suspension of all civil liberties. New snap election. But note that even at this point the NSDAP still cannot win a majority (44%) despite all their Schutzhaft and blatant cheating.
In March, Hitler finally asks for constitutional amendment for four years of plenary power as Chancellor. By now, the Center Party has been co-opted; KPD banned; SPD remains the only real opposition. The conservatives either join the Nazis or they cannot do a damn thing. When it comes to voting for the Enabling Act, SA thugs are literally in the Reichstag watching all the delegates vote. People were being dragged out or not let in. Of course it passes.
From January to March. Three months. That's all it took for Hiter to secure absolute power.
April. Berufsbeamtengesetz. The entire German civil service basically surrenders to Nazis.
May. All unions crushed.
June. All remaining political parties in the Reichstag vote themselves out of existence.
July. NSDAP becomes the only legal party in Germany.
The final collapse of Weimar democracy reads like a horror story. Once the conservative establishment had unleashed the demon out of the bottle, there was simply no chance for any pushback. I doubt if poor Hindenburg or Schleicher or von Papen even knew what they were doing at all.
Edit: c.f. Peter Hayes, Why? Explaining the Holocaust. All the dates and numbers come from notes from Christopher Browning's lecture "History of Nazi Germany and the Holocaust".