Court battle looms over Brexit legality

Background and reports of the hearings held on the 13, 17 and 18 October 2016 in the High Court in a legal challenge to the United Kingdom government's right to begin the official process of Brexit without parliamentary approval.

The High Court considered whether ministers could invoke Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, the trigger for formal talks on separation, without MPs passing an act of Parliament.

The High Court was expected to announce its ruling on the 3 November 2016. Whatever the outcome an appeal to the Supreme Court was expected.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Brexit: Legal steps seek to ensure Commons vote on Article 50 http://www.europeansources.info/record/brexit-legal-steps-seek-to-ensure-commons-vote-on-article-50-british-government-rejects-petition-for-second-eu-vote/

ESO: In Focus: Brexit - The United Kingdom and the European Union http://www.europeansources.info/record/brexit-the-united-kingdom-and-the-european-union/

ESO: Background information: Labour seeks to bind Theresa May over Brexit talks http://www.europeansources.info/record/labour-seeks-to-bind-theresa-may-over-brexit-talks/

ESO: Background information: UK government must disclose legal arguments on article 50 procedure http://www.europeansources.info/record/uk-government-must-disclose-legal-arguments-on-article-50-procedure/

The Conversation, 12.10.16: Do not turn Brexit into Britain’s version of Bush v Gore http://theconversation.com/do-not-turn-brexit-into-britains-version-of-bush-v-gore-66546

BBC News, 13.10.16: Brexit: High Court to hear challenge to Article 50 strategy http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-37639307

The Guardian, 17.10.16: Article 50 legal case 'is attempt to reverse Brexit', court told https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/oct/17/article-50-legal-case-is-attempt-to-reverse-brexit-court-told

The Guardian, 13.10.16: Gina Miller: the woman taking on Theresa May over article 50 https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/oct/13/gina-miller-theresa-may-article-50-brexit-parliament-legal-challenge

EurActiv, 19.10.16: UK parliament ‘very likely’ to have vote on post-Brexit deal http://www.euractiv.com/section/uk-europe/news/uk-parliament-very-likely-to-have-vote-on-post-brexit-deal/

The Guardian, 22.10.16: What could happen if the article 50 legal challenge is successful? https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/oct/22/what-could-happen-if-the-article-50-legal-challenge-is-successful

Blog: EUtopia Law, 30.09.16: Arguments in the referendum challenge now available https://eutopialaw.com/2016/09/30/arguments-in-the-referendum-challenge-now-available/

Blog: UK Constitutional Law Association, 20.10.16: Robert Craig: Report of Proceedings: Miller v Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, Day 2 (and also a link to a report of Day 1) https://ukconstitutionallaw.org/2016/10/20/robert-craig-report-of-proceedings-miller-v-secretary-of-state-for-exiting-the-european-union-day-2/

Blog: UKCLA: Tag: Miller v Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union https://ukconstitutionallaw.org/tag/miller-v-secretary-of-state-for-exiting-the-european-union/

Blog: UK Constitutional Law Association, 24.10.16: Robert Craig: Report of Proceedings: Miller v Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, Day 3 https://ukconstitutionallaw.org/2016/10/24/robert-craig-report-of-proceedings-miller-v-secretary-of-state-for-exiting-the-european-union-day-3/

Blog: EUtopia Law, 27.10.16: The remarkable Government case in the Art 50 litigation https://eutopialaw.com/2016/10/27/the-remarkable-government-case-in-the-art-50-litigation/

Blog: UK Constitutional Law Association, 01.11.16: An Unintended Consequence of Article 50? (S. Renton) https://ukconstitutionallaw.org/2016/11/01/simon-renton-an-unintended-consequence-of-article-50/

BBC News, 03.11.16: Brexit: High Court judges to give legal verdict http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-37855207

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