Britain's Supreme Court has set aside four days starting on December 5 for the government's appeal against a ruling that it cannot start the Brexit process without parliament's approval.
All 11 Supreme Court judges will hear the landmark case, which could delay Britain's withdrawal from the European Union, and will deliver their judgement "probably in the New Year", a court statement today said.
The High Court of England and Wales ruled last Thursday that the government could not use its executive power to trigger Article 50 of the EU's Lisbon Treaty, which starts a two-year countdown to Brexit.
The judgement that parliament must give its approval first threatens to derail the timetable set by Prime Minister Theresa May, who has said she intends to trigger Article 50 by the end of March.
There is also speculation that members of the House of Commons, the majority of whom opposed Brexit, may seek to soften Britain's break with the EU or even try to stop it.
"The Supreme Court has now received formal notification of the government's intention to appeal the High Court's decision of 3 November," a court statement said.
"Permission to appeal has been granted by a panel of three Justices and the case can now proceed to a full hearing."
Lord David Neuberger, president of the Supreme Court, will chair the appeal panel which will comprise of all 11 judges in Britain's highest court.
"Judgment will be reserved at the conclusion of that hearing and follow at a later date, probably in the New Year," the statement said.
It added: "The exact number of days and timings will depend on further submissions received from the parties on the precise legal arguments to be considered, the number of interveners and whether any other related cases are joined to this one.
"However, at this stage we expect the hearing may well last all four days from Monday 5 December.
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