If the circle were to be extended fully, it would have included a portion of New Jersey, but this was unacceptable because that land had already been granted.

A settlement was reached between the States at the beginning of the 20th century because the costs of litigation had grown too high.

The Special Master was a practitioner in Maine who had experience in original jurisdiction land disputes.

He oversaw production and heard oral arguments in the Third Circuit's court in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Justice Stephen Breyer recused himself from the case; according to his financial disclosure form, he owned between $15,001 and $50,000 in BP stock.