Mont v. United States
In brief
Credited time in pretrial detention pauses a person’s supervised-release term, even though the court may learn that later.
- Where it stands
- Decided
Decided 5-4 · June 3, 2019 · Opinion by Justice Thomas
- What it’s about
- This case asked whether a person’s federal supervised-release term stops running while the person is held in pretrial detention on new charges, if that detention is later credited toward the sentence for the new conviction.
- Who it affects
- The decision means the supervised-release clock does not run during credited pretrial detention. A court may calculate that pause after it learns whether the detention time was credited to the new sentence.
Summary: written with AI from the case record.
What it's about
The Court held that such credited pretrial detention does pause the supervised-release term under federal law.
The case interpreted a federal law governing when a term of supervised release pauses.
Question presented
1. Whether a statute directed to the administration of imprisoned individuals serves as authority to alter or suspend the running of a criminal sentence of supervised release, when such "tolling'' is without judicial action, and requires the term "imprisonment" as used in the administrative statute, to include pretrial detention prior to an adjudication of guilt. 2. Is a district court required to exercise its jurisdiction in order to suspend the running of a supervised release sentence as directed under 18 U.S.C. §3583(i) prior to expiration of the term of supervised release, when a supervised releasee is in pretrial detention, or does 18 U.S.C. §3624 (e) toll the running of supervised release while in pretrial detention?
What the Court decided
Holding
Pretrial detention later credited as time served for a new conviction is “imprison[ment] in connection with a conviction” and thus tolls the supervised-release term under §3624(e), even if the court must make the tolling calculation after learning whether the time will be credited. 325, affirmed.
- Result
- Affirmed
The vote
From the opinions
“Because I cannot agree that a person “is imprisoned in connection with a conviction” before any conviction has occurred, I respectfully dissent.”
What's next
The Supreme Court has finished this case. The Sixth Circuit’s ruling remains in place.
Documents
Docket activity
New analysis added
AI analysis generated: Case Briefing
AI analysis generated: Decision Record
Opinion added: opinion
Brief added: Petition
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Brief added: Questions Presented
More questions
- What did the Supreme Court decide in Mont v. United States?
- The Court upheld the Sixth Circuit. Credited pretrial detention pauses the supervised-release term under the federal law at issue.
- How does pretrial detention affect supervised release after Mont?
- The detention pauses supervision only if it is later credited toward the sentence for a new conviction. The court can make that calculation later.
- Who won Mont v. United States?
- The United States won because the Court upheld the Sixth Circuit’s ruling. The vote was 5-4.
- What happens next in Mont v. United States?
- The Supreme Court has completed its review. The Sixth Circuit’s ruling remains in place.
Sources
Primary materials plus reporting. Best-effort analysis: this explainer relies on a mix of primary materials and trusted secondary sources. Official filings and opinions remain authoritative.