You Betcha! Bristol and Levi Set a Date

Alaska judge orders September trial in the child-support battle between Bristol Palin and former fiancé Levi Johnston

UPDATE: While there's still more to come, a judge has ordered Johnston, who was a no-show in court today, to pay Bristol roughly $18,500, or what amounts to $1,688.42 a month in child support retroactive to Tripp's birth on Dec. 27, 2008.
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Bristol Palin and Levi Johnston will see you in September. Especially if you're stuck on jury duty in Alaska.

A state judge has set Sept. 23 for the showdown between America's most famous teenage mom turned abstinence advocate and her Playgirl-posing former beau. At issue: exactly how much Johnston should pay in child support to help raise their infant son, Tripp.

During a brief hearing in Palmer Superior Court on Thursday (for those keeping score, Palin was there but Johnston wasn't), the judge urged both parties to work out a deal to avoid trial.

Palin, 19, is seeking about $1,700 a month in palimony, claiming Johnston, also 19, has been a deadbeat dad. Her attorney has even subpoenaed Levi's financial records to show he earned approximately $105,000 in 2009 thanks to various media interviews and modeling gigs, including his Playgirl spread.

He insists that future income at the level is far from guaranteed and he doesn't have many paying gigs lined up.

And it's not like Palin is hurting for cash. Aside from the financial and legal help Bristol's been getting from mom Sarah, she's set to cash a check for her upcoming acting debut on ABC Family's The Secret Life of the American Teenager.