The pretrial conference is scheduled for October 10, 2008. That's the time when the actual date for the start of the trial will be set. Of course, anything could happen before then.
I think there's only about 1 chance in 100 that the case will actually go to trial. There's certainly plenty of time for a settlement before then. And the government has plenty of reason for wanting a settlement.
A settlement of the case could carry political implications: On Aug. 6, 2002, then-Atty. Gen. John Ashcroft first identified Hatfill as a "person of interest" in the anthrax mailings. By settling with Hatfill, the government would all but dispel the possibility that he might ever be charged for the deadly mailings. And -- in an election year when fear of terrorism looms as an important issue -- Hatfill's exoneration would remind voters that no suspect has been caught.
I think there's something "between the lines" in that comment. I'm just not sure what it is.