Judge sets April trial date for Sarah Palin's libel claim against NYT

NEW YORK CITY, New York: Onetime Republican vice presidential candidate and ex-governor of Alaska Sarah Palin's libel case against The New York Times will begin in April, even as lawyers on both sides for the first time said they hope to settle the case through talks.

Judge Jed S. Rakoff said during a telephone conference that if a deal cannot be reached before then, the trial can begin on April 14.

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