He said the court reserved the right to draw the lines on its own.

The court reserved its decision until 23 December 1996.

"The Legislature could do civil unions, but the court has reserved the right to rule two or five years down the road that that's not good enough."

The courts, for their part, have largely reserved the decisions favoring civil liberties in wartime to be handed down after the war was over.

After two hours of arguments, presented in a crowded hearing room at the Federal courthouse in Manhattan, the court reserved its decision.

"Oh, very well," Goddard said sulkily, seeing the trap in front of him, "but of course the court reserves the right to take over the questioning."

The court reserved its judgment and dismissed the appeal on 30 May 2012.

These inferior courts can also reserve points of law arising in criminal cases to be decided by the High Court.

The court reserved for itself the right to monitor and enforce the new government's pledge to observe and obey the constitution and laws.

The court reserves the right to act on its own to issue orders ensuring compliance with the ruling, and to punish violations.