If reports are to be believed than legal fight could derail Brexit; as Britain's Supreme Court began hearing a landmark case that will decide who has the power to trigger the U.K.'s exit from the European Union - the government or Parliament.
The legal battle has major constitutional implications for the balance of power between the legislature and the executive, and has inflamed Britain's raw wound over how and whether to leave the EU.
The court's most senior justice, David Neuberger and 10 other justices at the country's top court must decide whether Prime Minister Theresa May's government can invoke Article 50 of the EU's key treaty, the trigger for two years of divorce talks, without the approval of lawmaker.
May plans to trigger Article 50 by the end of March, using centuries-old government powers known as royal prerogative. The powers - traditionally held by the monarch but now used by politicians - enable decisions about joining or leaving international treaties to be made without a parliamentary vote.
Though the courtroom drama is unfolding in cool legal language, it has set public passions simmering; as November's ruling has infuriated pro-Brexit campaigners. They have already dubbed the lawsuit as an attempt to block or delay Britain's EU exit.
- Staffwriter
