["< sod > http : / / www. standard. co. uk / news / uk / theresa - may - tells - high - court - judge - brexit - wont - go - ahead - in - 2016 - in - first - legal - challenge - a3299336. html | date = 19 july 2016 | title = brexit move'won't happen in 2016'government tells high court judge in legal challenge } } < / ref > the full hearing began in october. in the court proceedings, the government argued that it would be constitutionally impermissible for the court to make a declaration, such as was being sought, in terms that, unless authorised by an act of parliament, the government could not lawfully issue notification under article 50 to withdraw the united kingdom from the european union. one of the government's arguments was that such a declaration would trespass on proceedings in parliament. < ref > ssexeu, para. 62. [ https : / / www. gov. uk / government / uploads / system / uploads / attachment _ data / file / 558592 / miller _ v _ ssexeu _ - _ skeleton _ argument _ of _ the _ secretary _ of _ state _ 300916. pdf ] < / ref > one of the precedents mentioned by the government was a court ruling that rejected a challenge to the validity of the [ [ ratification of the treaty of lisbon | ratification ] ] of the lisbon treaty after the passing of the [ [ european union ( amendment ) act 2008 ] ] but without a referendum. < ref >'' telegraph'' 18 june 2008 [ http : / / www. telegraph. co. uk / news / uknews / 2153561 / eu - treaty - britain - ratifies - eu - treaty. html ] < / ref > < ref > bbc news, 17 july 2008. [ http : / / news. bbc. co. uk / 1 / hi / uk _ politics / 7511281. stm ] < / ref > < eod > < sod > http : / / www. standard. co. uk / news / uk / theresa - may - tells - high - court - judge - brexit - wont - go - ahead - in - 2016 - in - first - legal - challenge - a3299336. html | date = 19 july 2016 | title = a brex ##it move'won't happen in 2016'government tells high court judge in legal challenge } } < / ref > the full hearing began in october. in the court proceedings, the government contended that it would be constitutionally impermissible for the court to make a declaration, such as the one being sought, in terms that, unless authorised by an act of parliament, the government could not lawfully issue notification under article 50 to withdraw the united kingdom from the european union. in support of this contention, the government referred to the court's previous decision when rejecting a challenge to the validity of the [ [ ratification of the treaty of lisbon | ratification ] ] of the lisbon treaty after the passing of the [ [ european union ( amendment ) act 2008 ] ] but without a referendum, < ref >'' telegraph'' 18 june 2008 [ http : / / www. telegraph. co. uk / news / uknews / 2153561 / eu - treaty - britain - ratifies - eu - treaty. html ] < / ref > < ref > bbc news, 17 july 2008. [ http : / / news. bbc. co. uk / 1 / hi / uk _ politics / 7511281. stm ] < / ref >, and stated that the declaration now being sought would likewise trespass on proceedings in parliament. < ref > ssexeu, para. 62. [ https : / / www. gov. uk / government / uploads / system / uploads / attachment _ data / file / 558592 / miller _ v _ ssexeu _ - _ skeleton _ argument _ of _ the _ secretary _ of _ state _ 300916. pdf ] < / ref > < eod >"]