Please refer this query to get the Max NextHearingDate where NextHearingDate less than or equal to '9/8/2014'.
SQL
DECLARE @tblHearingDates TABLE ([CaseNo] INT, NextHearingDate DATETIME)
INSERT INTO @tblHearingDates VALUES(1, '8/8/2014')
INSERT INTO @tblHearingDates VALUES(1, '9/8/2014')
INSERT INTO @tblHearingDates VALUES(2, '3/8/2014')
INSERT INTO @tblHearingDates VALUES(2, '9/8/2014')
INSERT INTO @tblHearingDates VALUES(3, '4/8/2014')
INSERT INTO @tblHearingDates VALUES(3, '10/8/2014')
--CONVERT(VARCHAR(10),MAX(NextHearingDate),110) for MM/DD/YYYY
SELECT [CaseNo],CONVERT(VARCHAR(10),MAX(NextHearingDate),110) AS NextHearingDate
FROM @tblHearingDates
WHERE NextHearingDate <= '9/8/2014'
GROUP BY [CaseNo]
Output
CaseNo NextHearingDate
1 09-08-2014
2 09-08-2014
3 04-08-2014