Yesterday, the US Supreme Court announced a schedule change for Gloucester School Board v. G.G., which would push the due date for respondent's merits brief as far back as Febuary 23, 2017. The website SCOTUSBlog notes that:
under the revised schedule it would not be slated for oral argument until the court’s March sitting (which begins on March 20) or possibly even the April sitting (which begins on April 17) – increasing the chances that a ninth justice may have taken the bench by the time the case is argued.
Is there any rule regarding how late in a case a new justice can join tp participate in the decision?