Britain's Supreme Court said Tuesday it has set aside four days starting on December 5 to hear the government's appeal against a landmark ruling that it must seek parliament's approval to start the Brexit process.
All 11 Supreme Court judges will hear the case, which could delay Britain's withdrawal from the European Union, and will deliver their judgement "probably in the New Year", a court statement said.
Prime Minister Theresa May's Conservative government is appealing against a High Court ruling last week that it does not have the executive power alone to trigger Article 50 of the EU's Lisbon Treaty, which begins exit negotiations.
The judgement prompted outrage among those who fear that some members of parliament -- most of whom wanted to stay in the EU ahead of June's shock referendum vote to leave -- may seek to delay or block Brexit, or ease the terms of the divorce.
Such was the extent of the personal attacks on the judges -- branded "Enemies of the People" by one tabloid newspaper -- that the justice minister was forced to issue a statement defending the independence of the judiciary.
- 'Wreck the negotiation' -
The government insists it will stick to its timetable for Brexit whatever the outcome of the court case, a message relayed by May in phone calls with EU leaders on Friday.
Updating MPs on the process on Monday, Brexit minister David Davis said: "This timetable remains consistent with our aim to trigger Article 50 by the end of March next year."
He repeated the government's refusal to set out its strategy to MPs in advance, saying it would "wreck the negotiation".
"We won't achieve a good negotiation outcome if this is a negotiation being run by 650 people in this House of Commons or nearly 900 in the Lords," he said.
"No negotiation in history has been run that way.
"Indeed, if parliament insists on setting out a detailed minimum negotiating position, that will quickly become the maximum possible offer from the negotiating partners."
- Scotland seeks to join case -
Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon earlier announced that her semi-autonomous government would seek to join the court case, in a bid to secure a vote not just for the House of Commons but for the Scottish parliament.
Lord Advocate James Wolffe, Scotland's most senior law officer, will lodge a formal application to the Supreme Court to intervene.
"Let me be clear -- I recognise and respect the right of England and Wales to leave the European Union. This is not an attempt to veto that process," Sturgeon told reporters.
"But the democratic wishes of the people of Scotland and the national parliament of Scotland cannot be brushed aside as if they do not matter."
She added: "So legislation should be required at Westminster and the consent of the Scottish Parliament should be sought before Article 50 is triggered."
While Britain as a whole voted to leave the EU, Scotland voted overwhelmingly for it to remain in the bloc.
Sturgeon's left-wing secessionist Scottish National Party has threatened a fresh vote on independence from the rest of the UK if Scotland cannot keep its ties with the EU.
The Supreme Court noted that length of next month's hearing "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". afp