As we reported, there are signs that a settlement may be reached in Township of Mount Holly v. Mt. Holly Gardens Citizens in Action, Inc. before the U.S. Supreme Court has a chance to hear the case. On July 3, the Court granted the extensions in the merits briefing schedule requested by the Township’s attorney, whose letter to the Court indicated that the extensions were sought “because the parties are currently engaged in settlement discussions to attempt to resolve the matter.”

The extensions give the Township and the respondent until, respectively, August 26  and October 21, 2013 to file their merits briefs. The joint appendix must also be filed by August 26. This makes an early August settlement more likely, before the Township would have to incur the expenses involved in preparing its brief.