P R E C E D E N T IAL

U NI T ED ST A T ES COU RT OF A PP EA LS F O R T H E T H IR D C IR C U IT

_____________ N o. 05- 4430

_____________

M I G U EL M ON T A NEZ

v. P AT TH O M P S O N , R E C O R D S P E C I AL I S T I , S TATE C O R R E C T IO N A L IN S T IT U T IO N A T A L B IO N ; J O H N D O E, I SU PER V I SO R O F IN M A T E R EC O RD S, S T A T E C O R R E C T IO N A L IN S T IT U T IO N A T A L B IO N ; J O H N D O E, I I , SU PER V I SO R O F IN M A T E R EC O RD S, S T AT E C O R R E C T I O N AL IN S T I T UT I O N AT G R A T E R F O R D ; S U P E R IN T E N D E N T , P H IL A D E L P H IA P RI S ON SYS T EM ; ROBER T DU RI S ON, DI REC T OR, C L A S S IF IC A T IO N , M O V E M E N T & R E G IS T R A T IO N ,

PHI LA DELPHI A PRI SON SYST EM
P A T T HOMP S ON, Ap p e l l a n t.* H on or ab l e Y v et t e K ane, C hi ef J u d g e of

t he U ni t ed St at es D i s t r i ctC our t f

or t he M i ddl e D i s t r i ctof Pen n s y l v ani a, s i t t i ng b yd e s i g na t i o n. 2

______________ O n App ea lfrom the Uni ted S tat es D i str i ct C o urt f o r t h e E a s t e r n

D is t r ic t o f

P e n n s y lv a nia ( D

. C

. C i v i lN o. 03- cv - 6713) D i s t r i ctJ u dge: H on or ab l e J u an R

. San chez

_______________ A r gu ed J an

u ar y26, 2010
B e fo re : FUE N TE S , FI S H E R , C i rcui tJudges, a nd K A NE , *

C hi ef D i s t r i ct Jud ge. ( F i l ed: A pr i l22, 2010)

_______________ Th o m a s W . C o rbe tt, J r., E s q . C l au di a M

. T es or o, E s q. ( A r gu ed) J ohn G

. K n or r , I I I , E s q. O f f i ce of A t t or n eyG ener al 21 Sou t h 12t h St r eet T hi r d F l oor Phi l adelphi a, PA 19107
C ouns el f orAppel l ant3 M i gu elM on

t anez 4245 N or t h F ai r hi l lSt r eet Phi l adelphi a, PA 19140
P r o Se Appel l ee C r ai g R

. G ot t l i eb , E s q. C it yo f P h ila d e lp h ia L a w D e p a r t m e nt 1515 A r ch St r eet O n e Par kw ay Phi l adelphi a, PA 19102
C ouns el f orAppel l ee Rober tD ur i s on M ar i an n e C on s en

t i n o, E s q. M

. J ar ed Li t t ma n , E s q. ( A r gu ed) Har k i n s Cu n

ni ng h a m LLP 2 8 0 0 O n e C o mme rce S q u are 2005 M ar ketSt r eet Phi l adelphi a, PA 19103
C ouns el f orC our tA m i cus on B ehal f of Appel l ee

OPINI ON O F T HE COU RTUn d e r P e n n sy l v a ni a l a w , th e “ ma x i mum ter m” re p re se n ts 1 the sentence i mp o sed for a cri mi n al o ffen se. T h e mi ni mu m term me r elys et s a dat e af

t erw hi c h t he pr i s on erma yb e par ol ed. M ar t i n v . Pen n s y l v ani a B d. of

Pr ob

. and Par ol e, 840 A

. 2d 299, 3 0 2 (P a. 20 0 3 ).
4 K A NE, C hi ef

D i s t r i ct Jud ge . T hi s i s a n i n

t er l ocut or yappea lb yPat T homps on ( “ T h o m p s o n” ) , a P e nns y l v a n i a D e p a r t m e nt o f C o r r e c t i o ns ( “ D O C ”) R ecor ds Speci al i s t atSC I A lb i on , f r o m t h e D i s t r i ct C our t ’ s or derden

y i ng hermot i on f

or s u mm ar yj u dgme n

t b as ed o n q u a l i fi e d i m m unit y . In a n a c ti o n b ro u g h t und e r 4 2 U.S .C . § 1983, Pl ai n

t i f f M i gu elM on

t anez ( “ M on

t anez” ) al l eges t hathe w as i n car cer at ed b ey ond t he expi r at i on of hi s ma xi mum t er m of i mp ri so n me n t a s a re su l t o f th e D e fe nd a n ts’ d e l ib e ra te i ndi ff e rence i n

res po ndi ng to hi s i nqu i ri es and ch al l enges. B e c a u se w e fi nd th a t w e m a yp ro p e rl ye x e rc i se a p p e l l a te j uri sd i c t io n

o v e r th i s a p p e a la nd th a t T h o mp so n w a s e n ti tl e d to qu al i f i ed i mm uni t yon

t hi s cl ai m, w e w i l lr ev er s e.

I . B A CKG ROUND O n A u gu s t 11, 199 2 , J u dge Q u i n on es of t he C our t of C omm on Pl eas s en

t enced M on

t anez f or b ur gl a r y, i mpos i ng a ma xi mum 60- mon

t h t er m of

i mpr i s on

me n t w i t h a 30- mon t h mini mum t er m, ef

f ect i v e J u l y23, 1992 ( “Q u i n on es 1 Sen t ence” )

. A s s u ch, hi s per i od of i n car cer at i on on t hi s s en t ence r a n t h r o u g h J u ly2 3 , 1 9 9 7

. O n J a n u a r y 2 8 , 1 9 9 5 , s h o r t lya f t e r h is m inim u m t e r m o f

im p r is o n

m e n t h a d e x p ir e d , t h e P e n n s y lv a niaA def endan t con v i ct ed i n muni cipalcour t has an 2 aut oma t i c r i ght t o appea l hi s con v i ct i on t o t he C our t of

C omm on Pl eas f or a t r i alde nov o. See 42 Pa. C on . St at

. A n n . § 1123
5 B oar d of

Pr ob at i on

and Pa r o l e ( “ Par ol e B oar d”) par ol ed M o n ta n e z fr o m th e Q u i n o n e s S e n te n c e . O n F eb r u ar y9, 1996, af

t erab ou t a y ear at l ib er t yf r om t he Q u i n on es Sen

t ence, M on

t anez w as a r r es t ed and det ai n ed on s ev e r a l n ew s t at e cha r ges , i n clu di ng mu l t ipl e coun t s of lur i ng a c h i l d i nt o a m o t o r v e h i c l e , h a r a s s m e nt , o p e n l e w d ne s s , i nd e c e nt exp osu re, an d co rrupting the moral s of a min or. M on t an ez firs t w e n t to tri a lo n

th e se c h a r g e s i n

P h i l a d e lp h i a M uni c ip a lC o urt, w h e r e h e w as c o n

v i cted after a b en ch tr i al ; the m uni ci p al co urt sentence d h i m o n Apri l3 0 , 1 9 9 6 , to a 6 0

- mo n th ma x i mu m term of i mpr i s on

me n t w i t h a 3 0

- mon

t h mini mum t er m. M on t anez appea l ed t he con

v i ct i on t o t he C our t of C omm on Pl eas on M ay 24, 1996, n

u l l i f y i ng t he con

v i ct i on and s en t ence of t he m uni cipal c o urt. O v e r a y e a r l a ter , o n J un e 9 , 1 9 9 7 , h e p l e a d e d g u i l tyto 2 t he cha r ges b ef

or e J u dge Smi t h of t he C our t of C omm on

Pl eas and w as again

s en t e n ced t o a 60- mon t h ma xi mum t er m of i mp ri so n me n t w i th a 3 0

- mo n t h mi ni mum ter m ( “ S mi th S e n ten c e ” ). T h e c o urt’s j u d g me n t d i d n o t p ro v i d e M o n

tan e z w i th an ycr edi t f or t i me s er v ed w hi l e aw ai t i ng hi s s en t ence. Whi l e t he pr ocee di ngs w er e under w ayagain s t M on t anez for t hese n ew charges, t he P arol e B oard l od ged a detain er agai n st hi m f or pos s ib l e v i ol at i on of hi s par ol e on t he Q u i n on es Sen t ence. T he Par ol e B oar d hel d a hear i ng on J u l y 29, 1996, and f ound t hat M on t anez w as a con

v i ct ed and t echni cal par ol e v i ol at or . H e w as r e c o mm i tted o n th e Q u i n o n e s S e n ten c e to se rv e 3 6 mo n

th s o fM o n t a n e z h a d a ls o b r o u g h t h is c o n c e r n s r e g a r d i n g h is 3 s e nt e nc e t o R o b e r t D ur i s o n, D i r e c t o r o f C l a s s i f i c a t i o n, M ov emen

t , & R egi st rat i on

for t h e P hi l adelph i a P ri son S y st em. W h i l e n a m e d a s a c o d e f

e nd a n t i n t h i s c a s e , D ur i s o n

d i d n o t a r g ue h e w a s e n

ti tl e d to q u a l i fi e d i mm uni tyb e fo re th e D i stri c t C o urt. T hu s , he w as n ot ab l e t o f i l e an i n t er l ocut or yappea lof

t he D i stri c t C o urt’s d e ni a lo f h i s m o ti o n fo r summa ry j u d g me n

t. 6 b ackt i me a s a con

v i ct ed v i ol at or and r ecom mi t t ed t o s er v e a co n cu rre n t s ix mo n

ths o f b ac k time a s a tec h ni ca lv i o l ator. D e s p i t e t h i s , t h e P a r o l e B o a r d l a t e r r e a l i z e d t h a t r e c o m m i t t i ng M o n tan e z a s a c o n

v i c ted v i o l a to r w a s u n

ti me l y , l i k e l yd u e to con f u s i on r es u l t i n g f r om t he n u l l i f i cat i on of M on t anez’ s muni cipal cour t con v i ct i on . T he Par ol e B oar d ev en t u al l y r es ci nded t he 36- mo n th b a c k ti me se n

ten c e o n N o v e mber 2 6 , 1 9 9 7 , b u t re tai n e d i ts f ind ing t h a t M o n

t a n e z w a s a t e c h nic a l v io la t o r . A c c o r d ing ly , o nly the P aro l e B o ard ’s si x - mo n th rec o mmi tmen

t f o r M o n tan ez ’s t echni calv i ol at i on

w as l ef t i n t act

. T he Par ol e B oar d or der r es ci ndi ng t he 36- mon t h s en t ence n ot ed t hatt he ca s e w as ret roact i v el ycl osed effect i v e J u l y23 , 19 97 , t he max i mum r el ease dat e on t he Q u i n on es Sen

t ence. A f t ert he Q u i n on es Sen

t ence ha d of

f i ci a l l yexpi r ed, M o n tan ez rema i n ed i n

p ri so n o n the S mi th S en

tence . M o n

tan ez ’s f i r s t con t actw i t h T homps on

occur r ed on

O ct ob er 10, 1998, w hen h e s u b m i t t e d a n

in m a t e r e q u e s t f

o r m s e e k ing c o p ie s o f h is com mi t me n

t paper s . ( A pp. at90. ) T homps on r es ponded t hathe 3 w o u l d h a v e t o s ub m i t a f e e o f $

. 1 0 f

o r e a c h c o p yo f

c o m m i t m e nt paper s b ef

or e s he coul d p r oces s hi s r equ es t

. Shor t l yaf t er r ece i v i ng T homps on ’ s r es pon s e, on O ct ob er16, 1998, M on t anez7 w a s t r a ns f

e r r e d f r o m S C I A lb i o n t o P h i l a d e lp h i a C o unt yP r i s o n, and t her e i s n o i ndi cat i on t hathe f ol l ow ed t hr ou gh w i t h hi s i ni t i al d o c u me n t re q u e st a t th a t ti me . M o n tan e z se rv e d ti me i n

c o un ty c u st o d yun

ti lJ a n u a ry 2 6 , 2 0 0 1 , an d , up o n re turni ng to th e sta te p ri s o n s y s te m , re s u m e d h i s c o m m uni c a ti o n s w i th Th o m p s o n . O n M a y2 2 , 2 0 0 1 , h e s ub m it t e d a n o t h e r in m a t e r e q u e s t f

o r m , in w h i c h h e s o u g h t, in ter a lia , in f o r m a t io n a b o u t c o m m it m e n

t c r e d it an d h i s co mmi tmen

t pap ers from J u d g e S mi th. (App

. at 91

. ) As t o hi s qu es t i on

ab ou t com mi t me n

t cr edi t , T homps on

r es ponded that sh e h ad sent a l ett er to J u d g e S mi th reg a r d i ng M o n tan ez ’s com mi t me n

t cr edi t on

F eb r u ar y8, 2001. She f ur t hern ot ed t hat n o co mmi tmen

t cred i t w o u ld b e a p p l i ed tow ard s M o n tan ez ’s s en t ence un t i lt he r ecor ds of

f i ce r ece i v ed a r es pon s e f r om J u dge S m i t h b e c a u s e “ i t i s no t a p p r o p r i a t e t o g i v e p r e - c o m m i t m e nt c r e d i t f o r t i m e b e i ng s e r v e d i n s a t i s f a c t i o n o f a s e p a r a t e a nd di s t i n cts en

t ence. ” ( I d. ) A l t hou gh t her e i s n o i ndi cat i on i n t he recor d that J u dg e S mi t h respon ded t o T ho mpson ’s i nqu i ri es, M on t anez’ s D O C r ecor d r ev eal s t hat ats ome poi n t he r ece i v ed 3 0 d a y s o f

c o m m it m e n

t c r e d it o n

t h e S m it h S e n

t e n c e f o r t h is inc a r c e r a t io n

p e r io d : ( 1 ) f

iv e d a y s f

o r t h e p e r io d b e t w e e n

h is ar r es t and t he l odgi ng of t he Par ol e B oar d’ s det ai n er , and ( 2) 25 d a y s f o r t h e p e r i o d b e t w e e n h i s m uni c ip a lc o ur t c o nv i c t i o n a nd t he fi l i ng o f hi s appea lt o the C ou rtof C ommon P l eas. E v e nt u a l l y , a f

t e r a r e v i e w o f M o nt a ne z ’ s s e nt e nc e c o m p u t a t i o n, T homps on

and her s uper i or s det er min ed M on t anez w as en

t i t l ed t o f u l lcom mi t me n

t cr edi t f or t i me s er v ed dur i ng hi s i n car cer at i on b e t w e e n a r r e s t o n t h e ne w c h a r g e s ( F e b r u a r y 9 , 1 9 9 6 ) a nd even t u als en t enci ng b yJ u dge Smi t h ( J un e 9, 1997)

. A f t er a p p l i c a t i o n

o f t h i s c r e d i t , M o n

t a n e z h a d s e r ve d t h e m a x i m um8 te rm o f i m p r i s o n

m e n t o n t h e Sm i t h Se n

t e n c e . A s s u c h , o n D ece mb er15, 2001, M on t anez w as r el eas ed. M on t anez f i l ed a c ompl ai n t i n t he D i s t r i ctC our t on O ct ob er6, 2005, al l egi ng t hatt h e n a m e d D ef endan t s t ook in e f f e c t u a l a c t io n

in r e s o lv ing t h e s up p o s e d e r r o r s in h is s en t enci ng cal cu l at i on , r es u l t i ng i n v i ol at i on s of hi s con s t i t u t i on al r i ght s . I ni t i al l y , T homps on f i l ed a m ot i on

t o di s mi s s t he com pl ai n t par t l yon

t he b as i s of

qu al i f i e d i m m uni t y , w hi ch t he D i s t r i ctC our t deni ed. When di s co ve r yw as com pl et ed, T homps on

f i l ed a m ot i on

f or s u mm ar yj u dgme n

t , again b as ed p a r t l y o n q u a lif

ie d im m unit y . T h e D is t r ic t C o ur t d e nie d t h is mot i on w i t hou t el ab or at i on . T h o m ps on t hen mov ed f

or r e c o n s i d e r a t i o n , w h i c h t h e D i s t r i c t C o ur t a l s o d e ni e d w i t h o ut e l a b o ra ti o n . T h o m p so n

t h e r e a f t e r t im e lyf

ile d t h is in

t e r lo c u t o r ya p p e a l. I n resp o n se to T h o mp so n ’s no ti ce o f a p p e a l , the D i str i ct C o urt en t er ed a m em or andu m opini on exp l ai ni ng i t s pr i or deni alof T h o mp so n ’s mo ti o n

for su mma ryj u d g ment. T h e D i str i ct C o urt n ot ed t h a t t he par t i es had adv anced di f f er en t cal cu l at i on s of M on t anez’ s ma xi mum r el eas e dat e and f ound t hatt he di f

f er ence in p ro p o se d re l e a se d a tes p re se n ted a fa c tu a ld i sp u te th a t p re c lu d e d e n

tryo f summa ry j u d g me n t: M o n t a n e z be l i e ve s h i s r e l e a s e d a t e s h o ul d h a ve b een F eb ru ary , 20 01

. T he st at e argu es hi s r el ease i n D ecemb er, 20 01 w as t oo earlyb ecau se M o n t a n e z w a s n e v e r r e p a r o le d a f t e r s e r v ing h is s ix m o n t h s 'b a c k t im e a nd , t h e r e f o r e , h e d id n o t b e g in s e r vi ng J ud g e S m i t h ' s t w o - t o - f i ve ye a r s e n

t e nc e un t i lJ u l y23, 1997. T he di f f er ence in

date s9 pr es en t s a f actualqu es t i on

w hi ch pr ev en

t s t he e nt r yo f s u m m a r yj u d g m e nt i n f a v o r o f D e f e nd a nt T h o m p s o n. ( D i s t

. C t

. O p . a t 2

. ) T h e D i s t r i c t C o ur t h e l d , w i t h o u t e x p l a na t i o n, t hat ev alu at i ng t hes e di s par at e ca l cu l at i on s and det er mini ng t he co rrect max i mu m rel ea se d ate w as a q u esti o n o f fact for the j ury t o deci de. T he D i s t r i ctC our t al s o n ot ed t hat t he j ur yw ou l d n eed t o det er min e w het herM on t anez a dequ at elydem on s t r at ed t hat T h o m p s o n

a c t e d w it h d e lib e r a t e ind if f e r e n c e t o s u c c e e d o n

h is E i g h th Amen d ment cl ai m. A d d i ti o n al l y , the D i s tr i ct C o urt d etermi n ed that, i f M o n

tan ez w as h el d b ey o nd h i s ma x i mu m term of i mpr i s on

me n t , T h o m ps on

w ou l d n ot qu al i f

yf or qu al i f i ed i m m uni t y be c a us e t h e r e i s a c l e a r l y e s t a bl i s h e d r i g h t “no t t o be h e l d .” (D i s t. C t. O p . a t 5 .)

I I . DI S CU S S I ON T he D i s t r i c t

C o u rt had j ur i s di ct i on

ov erM on

t anez' s f eder al ci v i lri g h ts cl ai ms p ursu an t t o 2 8 U. S

. C

. § § 1 3 3 1 an d 1 3 4 3 (a)(3). O ur j ur i s di ct i on

i s con t es t ed. We n ece s s ar i l yexer ci s e d e n o vo r e v i e w o v e r a n a r g u m e nt a l l e g i ng a l a c k o f a p p e l l a t e j ur i s d i c t i o n. R ei l l y v . C i ty o f At l anti c C i ty , 5 3 2 F

. 3 d 2 1 6 , 2 2 3 (3d C i r. 2 0 0 8 ). T o t h e e x t e n

t t h a t w e d o h a v e jur is d ic t io n t o e n t e r t a in t h is a p p e a l,

“ [w ]e re v i e w th e d e ni a lo f a mo ti o n fo r summa ry j u d g me n t de novo . W e a p p l yt h e s a m e t e s t r e q u i r e d o f t h e d i s t r i c t c o ur t a nd v i ew i n f er ences t o b e dr aw n

f r om t he under l y i ng f

act s i n t he l i ght mos t f av or ab l e t o t he non

mov i n g p a r t y . ” B ay erv . M on r oe C o un tyC h i l d ren

an d Y o u th S erv . , 5 7 7 F

. 3 d 1 8 6 , 1 9 1 (3d C i r. 2 0 0 9 ) ( q u o ti ng H a yb a rg e r v . L a w re n c e C o un ty Ad u l t P ro b . & P a ro l e , 5 5 1 F.3 d 1 9 3 , 1 9 7 (3 d C i r. 2 0 0 8 ))

.10 A . Ju ri s di ct i on M o n tan e z a rg u e s th a t w e d o n o t h a v e j uri sd i c ti o n to e n t e r t a i n t h e i s s ue s r a i s e d i n t h i s i n t e r l o c ut o r y a p p e a l

. T yp i c a l l y, a d e ni a lo f

s um m a r y j ud g m e n

t i s n o t a f

i n a l a p p e a l a bl e o r d e r , but the S up reme C o urt h a s h el d that “ a d i str i ct co urt ' s d en i al o f a c l a i m o f q ua l i f i e d i m m uni t y, t o t h e e x t e n t t h a t i t t ur n s o n

a n i s s ue of l aw , i s an appea l ab l e ‘ f

i n aldeci s i on ’ w i t hi n

t he m eani ng of

28 U.S .C . § 1 2 9 1 n o tw i th s ta nd i ng th e a b s e n c e o f a fi n a lj u d g m e n t.” M i t chel lv . F orsy t h, 4 7 2 U

. S

. 51 1, 53 0 (198 5). T he S upreme C o ur t h a s m a d e c l e a r, h o w e v e r, th a t th i s q u a l i fi e d i mm uni ty exce pt i on

does n ot i n clu de i n

t er l ocut or yappea l s of

a di s t r i ct c o urt’s e v i d e n c e su ffi c i e n c yd e ter mi n a ti o n s a t su mm ar y j ud g me n t,

“ i

. e. , w hi ch f

act s a par t yma y , or ma yn ot , b e abl e t o p r ov e at t r i a l

. ” J o h n s o n

v. J o n e s , 5 1 5 U

. S

. 3 0 4 , 3 1 3 ( 1 9 9 5 )

. A c c o r d i ng l y,

“ o ur j ur i s d i c t i o n t o r e v i e w t h e D i s t r i c t C o ur t ’ s o r d e r d e ny i ng s u mm ar y j u dgme n

t depends on w het her t he def endan t s ’ appea l r ai s es pur e qu es t i on s of

l aw or w het heri t chal l enges t he D i s t r i ct C our t ’ s det er min at i on

of w hi ch f act s w er e s u f

f i ci en t l ys uppor t ed b ye v i d e n c e .” R e i l l y , 5 3 2 F .3 d a t 2 2 4 (q u o ti ng B l a y l o c k v . C i ty of Phi l adelphi a, 504 F

. 3d 405, 409 ( 3d C i r . 2007) )

. F or i n s t ance, a n a p p e a ls c o ur t c a n

n o t r e v ie w w h e t h e r t h e d is t r ic t c o ur t e r r e d in den y i ng a qu al i f

i ed i mm uni t ymot i on

b eca u s e t he j udge w as mi s t aken as t o t he f

act s t hatar e s ub

j ectt o gen

u i n e di s pu t e. See F o rb es v . T w p . o f L o w er M eri o n , 3 1 3 F

. 3 d 1 4 4 , 1 4 7 ( 3 d C ir

. 2002)

. O ur r ev i ew i n t hes e ci r cums t ances i s t her ef or e s ome w hat anal ogou s t o t h e r ev i ew of a R u l e 12( b ) ( 6) mot i on , “ w her e w e w ou l d n ot ev alu at e t he under l y i ng evi d e n ce t o s uppor t t he p l a int if f ’ s c l a i m s w h i c h th e D i s tr i c t C o urt c h o s e to a c c e p t.” Wal t erv . Pi ke C oun

t y, P a . , 544 F

. 3d 182, 190 ( 3d C i r . 2008) (qu o ting At k i n so n

v . T ay l o r, 3 1 6 F

. 3 d 2 5 7 , 2 6 1 n . 4 (3d C i r.11 2 0 0 3 )). D e sp i te th i s, w e ma y r e v i e w “ w h e th e r th e se t o f fa c ts i den t i f i ed b yt he di s t r i ct cour t i s s u f f i ci en t t o es t ab l i s h a v i ol at i on of a cl ear l y es t ab l i s hed con s t i t u t i on al r i ght

. ” R ei l l y , 532 F

. 3d at 2 2 4 (ci ting F o rb es, 31 3 F

. 3 d at 14 7 ). Add i ti o n al l y , “ [i ]f there are min or gaps i n

t h e D i s t r i ctC our t ’ s f

actu alr eci t at i on , ‘ w e ca n d e t e r m in e w h a t f

a c t s t h e d is t r ic t c o ur t , in t h e lig h t m o s t f a v o r a b le to t h e n o n

m o v i ng p a r t y , l i k e l y a s s u m e d

. ’ ” Wa l t e r , 5 4 4 F .3 d a t 190 ( qu ot i ng R i v as v . C i t yof Pas s ai c, 365 F

. 3d 181, 196 n

. 10 ( 3d C i r. 2 0 0 4 )). M o n tan ez arg u es th at w e sh o u l d d i smi ss thi s i n terl o cu tory app ealfor l ack o f j uri sdi ct i on b ecau se t he app eal do es not r ai se a pur e qu es t i on

of l aw , b u t r a t heri s a cha l l enge t o t he D i s t r i ct C our t ' s f actu al det er min at i on t hat t he r ecor d ev i dence pr es en t ed a t s u m m a r y ju d g m e n

t s u f f ic ie n t ly r a is e d a g e n

u in e d is p u t e . T h is ar gu me n t s eem s t o b e b as ed on

t he D i s t r i ct C our t ’ s hol di ng t hat t he par t i es ’ di f

f er en t l y - com pu t ed f

i n a l r el eas e dat es f

or t he di s pu t ed t er m of

i mpr i s on me n t pr es en t ed “ a f actu al qu es t i on” t hat p re v e n ted th e e n

tryo f summa ry j u d g me n t. M o n tan e z su g g e s ts t h a t w e w o u ld n o t b e a b le t o r e v ie w t h is h o ld ing t o t h e e x t e n t it i ndi cat es t hatt he D i s t r i ctC our t f ound s u f f i ci e n t r ecor d f

actu al s up p o r t f o r h is p r o f

f e r e d c a lc u la t io n . T h o m p s o n d is p u t e s t h is con t en t i on , ar gu i ng t h a t t hi s appea ldoes n ot r ai s e ev i dence s u f f i ci encyi s s u es b eca u s e an i n ma t e' s r el eas e dat e i s a m i xed q u e s t io n o f f a c t a n d la w . T h o m p s o n f ur t h e r p o in

t s o u t t h a t , in den y i ng s u mm ar yj u dgme n t , t he D i s t r i ctC our t i den t i f i ed t he app l i cab l e hi st ori calfact s, i n clu di ng M on t an ez’s con

v i ct i on s, i n car cer at i on

t i me , and par ol e hi s t or y , and t heyhave n o t b een c h a l l e ng e d o n

th i s a p p e a l

.12 T hou gh w e w i l l b r i ef

l y exam i n e M on

t anez’ s cl ai m t hathe w a s h e l d be yo nd h i s m a x i m u m r e l e a s e d a t e a s a n a i d t o o ur a n a l ys i s , w e d o n o t n e e d t o f i n a l l y d e t e r m i n e t h e c l a i m t o r e s o l ve th i s a p p e a l . W e c a n

d e ter mi n e w h e th e r Th o mp so n i s e n ti tl e d to qu al i f i ed i mm uni t yundert he “ cl ear l yes t ab l i s hed” pr ong of S au ci er v . Kat z, 53 3 U. S

. 19 4 (200 1). As M on t an ez con cedes, w e c l e a rl yd o h a v e a p p e l l a te j uri s d i c ti o n o v e r th i s i s s u e . (A m i cus B r . at16 n . 3. ) We ma yt her ef or e pr oper l yexer ci s e j ur i s di ct i on ov ert hi s appea lt o det er min e w het her t he s et of f act s i den t i f i ed b ythe D i str i ct C o urt w as su ffi ci en t to es tab l i sh a v i o l ati o n o f a cl ear l yes t ab l i s hed r i ght

. See R ei l l y , 532 F

. 3d at224.

B . Q u a l i fi ed Imm u n i ty

“ T h e d o c t r i ne o f

q u a l i f i e d i m m uni t yp r o t e c t s g o v e r nm e nt of f i ci al s ‘ f r om l i ab i l i t y f

or ci v i l dam ages i n s of

aras t hei r condu ct does n ot vi ol at e cl ear l yes t ab l i s hed s t at u t or yor con s t i t u t i on al ri g h ts of w h i ch a re aso n ab l e p erso n w o u ld h av e k n o w n . ’” Pear s on v . C al l ahan , 129 S. C t

. 808, 815 ( 2009) ( qu ot i ng H ar l ow v . F i tzg e ra l d , 4 5 7 U.S

. 8 0 0 , 8 1 8 (1 9 8 2 )). Q u a l i fi e d i mm uni ty appl i es r egar dl es s of

w het hert he gov er n

me n t of f i ci al ’ s condu ct r es u l t s f r om a mi s t ake of

l aw , mi s t ake of

f act , or mi s t ake b as ed on mi xed qu est i on s of l aw an d fact

. I d. I n S au ci er, t he S upreme C ou rtprov i ded a sequ en t i alt w o- st ep i nqu i ryfor an al y zi ng cl ai ms o f q ua l i f i e d i m m uni t y: F i rst, a c o urt must d e c i d e w h e th e r th e fa c ts th a t a pl ai n t i f f has al l eged ors how n

ma ke out a v i ol at i on o f a c o n sti tu ti o n a lri g h t. S e c o nd , i f th e p l a in t if f has s at i s f

i ed t hi s f i r s t s t ep, t he cour t mu s t deci de w het hert he r i ght at i s s u e w as cl ear l yes t ab l i s hed a t th e ti me o f a d e fe nd a n t’s a l l e g e d mi sc o nd u c t.M o nt a ne z h a s a l s o c l a i m e d t h a t h i s t e r m o f i m p r i s o nm e nt 4 r es u l t ed i n

a v i ol at i on

of h i s du e pr oces s r i ght s undert he F our t een t h A me ndme n

t

. T hi s cl ai m w as un addr es s ed b yt he D i s t r i ctC our t and has n ot b een s i gni f i c a n t l yr ai s ed b yei t herof 13 Q u al i f i ed i mm uni t yi s appl i cab l e un l es s t he of f i ci al ’ s condu ctv i ol at ed a c l ear l yes t ab l i s h ed c o n s ti tuti o n a lri g h t. Pear s on , 1 2 9 S. C t

. at815- 16 ( ci t i ng Sau ci er , 533 U

. S. at201 ( 2 0 0 1 ) ) ( i n

t e r n a lc i t a t i o n s a nd q uo t a t i o n s o m i t t e d )

. R e c e n t l y, how ev er , t he Supr em e C our t has el i min at ed t he r equ i r em en t t hat S a u c ie r ’ s t w o s t e p s b e a n a ly z e d in s e q u e n t ia l o r d e r : O n r e c o n s id e r ing t h e p r o c e d ur e r e q u ir e d in Sau ci er , w e conclu de t hat , w hi l e t he s equ ence s et f or t h t her e i s of

t en appr opr i at e, i t s hou l d n o l onger be r egar ded as ma ndat or y . T he j u dges of t he d i s t r i c t c o ur t s a nd t h e c o ur t s o f a p p e a l s s h o ul d be p e r m it t e d t o e x e r c is e t h e ir s o und d is c r e t io n in deci di ng w hi ch of

t he t w o pr ongs of

t he qu al i f

i ed i mm uni t yanaly s i s s hou l d b e addr es s ed f i r s t i n l i ght of t he cir cums t ances i n

t he par t i cu l ar cas e athand. I d. at818. I n t hi s cas e, t he par t i es f

ocu s on t he f

i r s t pr ong of

Sau ci er in a n a ly z ing w h e t h e r M o n t a n e z h a s s h o w n

t h a t h e w a s h e ld b e y o nd h i s m a x i mum re l e a se d a te. M o n tan e z c l a i ms th a t h is E i ght h A me ndme n

t r i ght s w er e v i ol at ed w hen hi s d e t en t i on e x c eede d t he m axi mum r el eas e dat e on hi s t er m of i mp ri so n ment. T h i s C o urt h as p rev i o u sl yh el d that an i n mate’s 4t he par t i es on appea l

. A ccor di ngl y , w e w i l l r em and t o t he D i s t r i ct C our t t o r ev i ew t hi s cl ai m i n acc or dance w i t h F or b es v . T w p. of L o w er M eri o n , 3 1 3 F

. 3 d 1 4 4 , 1 4 9

- 5 0 (3d C i r. 2 0 0 2 ).
14 d e t e n t io n b e y o nd h is o r h e r m a x im u m t e r m o f im p r is o n m e n t c o u ld c o n sti tu te c ru e la nd un

u su a lp uni sh me n

t i n v i o l a ti o n

o f th e E i g h th A me ndme n

t

. See Sampl e v . D i ecks , 885 F

. 2d 1099, 1107- 08 ( 3d C i r . 1 9 8 9 )

. T h o m p s o n a r g u e s t h a t M o n t a n e z h a s no t s h o w n a v i ab l e con s t i t u t i on aldepr i v at i on b eca u s e t he undi s pu t ed hi s t or i cal f act s ab ou t M on

t anez' s con

v i ct i on and i n car cer at i on

hi s t or yr ev eal t hathe w as n ot s ub

j ect ed t o un

j u s t i f i ed i n car cer at i on . M on

t anez c l a i m s t h a t h e h a s s h o w n a g e n ui n e d i s p ut e o f

f a c t o n t h i s i s s ue th a t w o u l d p re c lu d e s u m m a ry j u d g m e n t. C o n s id e r ing t h e f

a c t s a d o p t e d b y t h e D i s t r ic t C o ur t , it w o u l d se e m unl i k e l yth a t M o n tan e z c o u l d sh o w h e w a s h e ld be yo nd h i s m a x i m um r e l e a s e d a t e und e r t h e s e c i r c um s t a nc e s . T h e P en n sy l v an i a p aro l e stat u te pro v i d es th at pa rol e v i o l ators a re t o b e r e c o m m it t e d f

o r t h e r e m a ind e r o f t h e ir o r ig ina l s e n t e n c e ; a t echni calpar ol e v i ol at or ma yb e “ r een t er ed t o s er v e t he r em ai nder of t he or i gi n a ls en

t ence ors en

t ences . . . . f

r om t he dat e t he par ol ee i s t aken i n

t o cu s t ody on t he w ar r an t of t he b oar d. ” 61 Pa. C on . St at

. A n

n . § 6138( c)

. I t i s t r u e, as M on t anez poi n

t s ou t , t hat he w as u l t i mat el y recommi t t ed for on l ysi x mont hs of b ackti me f o r t e c h ni c a lv i o l a t i o n o f h i s p a r o l e o n t h e Q u i no ne s S e nt e nc e b eca u s e t he b oa r d r es ci nded i t s f i ndi ng t hathe w as a con v i ct ed p a r o l e vi o l a t o r . D e s p i t e t h i s , h e w a s n o t n e c e s s a r i l y e n t i t l e d t o be r e le a s e d a f

t e r h is s ix -m o n

t h b a c k t im e s e n

t e n c e h a d e x p ir e d

. In P e n n s yl va ni a , ba c k t i m e i s c o n s i d e r e d t o be a n e w m i ni m um se n ten c e , w h i c h o nl y a ffe c ts a p a ro l e v i o l a to r’s e n ti tl e me n t to15 s e e k r e p a r o l e . S e e R i ve r ba r k v. C o m . , P e n n s yl va ni a B d

. o f

P r o b. and Par ol e, 501 A

. 2d 1110, 1113 n

. 4 ( Pa. 1985) ( “ T he per i od of r ecom mi t m e n t s etb yt he B oar d, w hi ch m ayb e l es s t han t he un expi r ed t er m of t he par ol ee' s s en t ence, s i mply es t ab l i s hes a new par ol e el i gib i l i t ydat e f

or t he par ol ee— it d o e s n o t en tit le h im to r e l e a s e a f t e rt h a tp e r i o d o

f t i me . U pon

com pl et i on

of t hi s per i od o f b a c k t im e , t h e p a r o le e h a s t h e r ig h t t o a g a in a p p lyf o r p a r o le a nd h a v e h is a p p lic a t io n c o n s id e r e d b yt h e B o a r d

. ” ) ( e m p h a s is a d d e d )

. A d d i t i o na l l y , M o nt a ne z c o nt e nd s t h a t h e r e c e i v e d no cr edi t f or t he t i me - per i od b et w een hi s ar r es t on t he new char ges a nd e ve n t ua l s e n t e n c i ng by J ud g e S m i t h

. H o w e ve r , t h e m a x i m um r el eas e dat e f

or t he f i v e- y ea r Q u i n on es Sen

t ence w as J u l y23, 1 9 9 7 , w h ic h is t h e d a t e t h e c a s e w a s c lo s e d b yt h e f ina l P a r o le B oar d or der on t hat ma t t er . A ccor di ngl y , ev er ydayb et w een t he dat e t he Q u i n on es Sen

t ence w as i mpos ed ( J u l y23, 1992) and t he Q u i n on es cas e cl os i ng ( J u l y 23, 1997) w as f u l l ycr edi t ed t ow ar ds t hatf i v e- y ears en

t ence, w hi ch appea r s t o b e a c or r ectappl i cat i on o f P e nns y l v a ni a l a w . S e e M a r t i n v . P e nns y l v a ni a B d

. o f P r o b

. a nd Par ol e, 840 A

. 2d 299, 309 ( Pa. 2003) ( “ [ W]e hol d t hat , w her e an of f enderi s i n car cer at ed on b ot h a B oar d det ai n erand n ew cr i min alchar ges , al lt i me s pen t i n con f i n em en t mu s t b e cr edi t ed to e i th e r t h e n e w s e n

te n c e o r t h e o ri g i n a ls e n te n c e .” ). A s i s cl earf

r om t hi s di s cu s s i on , how ev er , t h e i s s u e of w h e th e r M o n

tan e z w a s h e ld b e y o nd h i s m a x i mum re l e a se d a te w i t hou t penol ogi calj u s t i f i cati o n t ur n s on

i n t erpr et at i on

of P e nns y l v a ni a s e nt e nc i ng a nd p r o b a t i o n l a w . E v e n b e f o r e P e a r s o n, w e found that su ch cases are mor e app ropri at el yres ol v ed fi rs t und e r S a uc i e r ’ s “c l e a r l y e s t a bl i s h e d ” i nq u i r y. S e e E g o l f v. W it m e r , 5 2 6 F

. 3 d 1 0 4 , 1 1 0 ( 3 d C ir

. 2 0 0 8 ) ( “ W e a g r e e t h a t , in ca ses s u ch as th i s, fed era lco urt s d o a d i sserv i ce to state ac tors16 w ho w ou l d b e i ndu ced t o r e l yon a r u l i ng t hatmi ght change al tog ethe r up o n

sub seq u en

t r ev i ew b yt h e s t ate c o urt

. ”). T h e r e f o r e , i n l i g h t o f

t h e s e c o ns i d e r a t i o n s a nd b e c a u s e w e f i nd that T h o mp so n

i s enti tl ed to q u al i fi ed i mmu ni tyund er S au ci er’s c l e a r l ye s t a b l i s h e d a na l y s i s , w e ne e d no t f i na l l yd e t e r m i ne w het herM on

t anez w as hel d b ey ond hi s ma xi mum r el eas e dat e.

“ T he r el ev an

t , di s pos i t i v e i nqu i r yi n

det er mini ng w het her a r i g h t i s cl ear l yes t ab l i s hed i s w het heri t w ou l d b e cl eart o a r eas on ab l e of

f i cert hat hi s condu ctw as unl aw f u li n t he s i t u at i on he conf r on t ed. ” Sau ci er , 533 U

. S. at201 ( ci t i ng Wi l s on v . L ay n e, 526 U

. S. 603, 615 ( 1999) )

. B eca u s e t hi s i nqu i r y f ocu s es on

t he of f i ci al ’ s actu als i t u at i on , t he analy s i s “ mu s t b e under t aken i n l i ght of t he s peci f

i c c o n t extof

t he ca s e, n ot as a b r oad gener al pr opos i t i on

. . . . ” I d. T he s eco n d p r o n g of t he qu al i f

i ed i mm uni t y a n aly s i s t her ef or e “ t ur n s on

t he ‘ ob j ect i v e l egal r eas on ab l enes s of

t he ac t i on , as s es s ed i n

l i ght o f t he l egalr u l es t h a t w e r e c l e a r l y e s t a b l i s h e d a t t h e t i m e i t w a s t a k e n. ’ ” P e a r s o n, 129 S. C t

. at 822 ( qu ot i ng Wi l s on , 526 U

. S. at 614)

. “ [ I ] f t he l aw d id n o t p u t t h e o f

f ic e r o n n o t ic e t h a t h is c o nd u c t w o u ld b e c le a r ly unla w f u l, s u m m a r yju d g m e n

t b a s e d o n

q u a lif ie d im m unit yis a p p ro p ri a te.” B a y e r v . M o n ro e C o un

t y C h il d re n

a nd Y o u th Ser v . , 577 F

. 3d 186, 193 ( 3d C i r . 2009) ( qu ot i ng Sa uc i e r , 5 33 U

. S. at202)

. A ccor di ngl y , qu al i f i ed i mm uni t yanaly s i s “ gi v es am pl e r oom f

or m i s t aken

j u dgme n

t s b ypr ot ect i ng al lb u t t he p l a i nl yi n c o m p e te n

t o r t h o s e w h o k n o w i ng l yv i o l a te th e l a w .” E gol f , 526 F

. 3d at 110- 11 ( qu ot i ng G i l l es v . D av i s , 427 F

. 3d 197, 203 ( 3d C i r . 2005) ) ; s ee al s o M al l eyv . B r i ggs , 475 U

. S. 335, 341 (19 8 6 ).17 We b egi n

t hi s analy s i s b yr ev i ew i ng t he es t ab l i s hed l egal ru l e s d uri ng th e re l e v a n

t ti me p e ri o d . I n

th e c o n tex t o f a n E i g h th A me ndme n

t cl ai m f

or i n car cer at i on

w i t hou t penol ogi cal j u sti fi c a ti o n , thi s C o urt h a s h e l d th a t a p l a i n ti ff m u st d e mo n stra te t hr ee e l em en

t s t o es t ab l i s h § 1 9 8 3 l i ab i l i t yagain s t a pr i s on o ffi ci al : (1) a p ri so n

o ffi ci al h ad k n o w l e d g e o f t h e p ri so n er’s pr ob l em and t h u s of

t he r i s k t hatun

w ar r an t ed puni s hme n

t w as b ei ng, or w ou l d b e, i n f

l i ct ed; ( 2) t he of

f i ci al ei t herf

ai l ed t o actor t o o k o nl yi ne f

f e c t u a la c t i o n u nd e r t h e c i r c u m s t a nc e s , i nd i c a t i ng th a t h i s re sp o n se to t h e p ro b l e m w a s a p ro d u c t o f d e l ib e ra te i ndi f f er ence t o t he pr i s on er ’ s pl i ght ; and ( 3) a ca u s alcon n ect i on b et w een t he of f i ci al ’ s r es pon s e t o t he pr ob l em and t he un j u s t i f i ed d e t e n t io n . S a m p le , 8 8 5 F

. 2 d a t 1 1 1 0

. R e le v a n t c ir c u m s t a n c e s in a s s e s s i ng t h e s e f

a c t o r s a r e t h e s c o p e o f

t h e o f f i c i a l ’ s d u t i e s a nd t h e r o le t h e o f

f ic ia l p la y e d i n

t h e li f e o f t h e p r is o n . Id

. In Sampl e, w e f

ound an E i gh t h A m endme n

t v i ol at i on

w her e t he rec o rd d emo n str ated that D i ec k s (t h e p ri so n o ffi ci al ): ( 1 ) be l i e ve d S a m p l e ’ s i nq u i r y m i g h t w e l lh a ve m e r i t , ( 2 ) k n e w t h a t t h e m a t t e r n e e d e d t o be c la r if ie d , ( 3 ) b e lie v e d S a m p le h a d t o r e lyo n h is ( D i ecks ’ ) ef

f or t s al on e t o r ect i f

yt he pr ob l em , ( 4) di d n ot f ol l ow t he r el ev an t pr ocedur es ma ndat ed b yt he Pen

n s y l v ani a B ur eauof

C or r ect i on , ( 5) t ook n o o ther rem ed i al ac ti o n , a n d (6) d i d n o t in form Sampl e of an

y ot heract i on

he ( Sampl e) mi ght t ake t o resol v e hi s prob l em. I d. at1111. T he Sam pl e ar t i cu l at i on of t hi s l egals t andar d w as rea ffirmed i n M o o re v . T artl er, 98 6 F

. 2 d 6 8 2 , 6 8 6 (3d C i r. 1 9 9 3 ). I n M o o re , p aro l e o ffi ci al s i ni ti al l ymi si n terpreted a j u d g e’s18 sentenci ng o rde r resu l t ing i n a si x - mo n

th d el ay o f M o o re’s r e lea se . I d . at 6 8 3

- 6 8 4 . T h e o ffi c i a l s d e ni e d M o o re ’s i nit ia l requ est s f

or r el ease, b u t di d l au n ch an i n v est i gati on

of hi s cl ai ms t hatl as t ed ov erf

i v e mon t hs and ev en

t u al l y r es u l t ed i n hi s r el eas e. Id

. W e n o t e d t h a t d e lib e r a t e i n d i f f e r e n c e w a s m o r e t yp ic a lly s how n “ i n t hos e cas es w her e pr i s on of f i ci al s w er e pu t on

n ot i ce and t hen s i mp l y r ef

u s ed t o i n

v es t i gat e a pr i s on er ’ s cl ai m of s e n t e n c e m is c a lc u la t io n . ” Id

. a t 6 8 6

. E x p a nd ing o n t h is pr opos i t i on , w e hi ghl i ght ed H ay good v

. Y ounger , 769 F

. 2d 1350 ( 9t h C i r . 1985) , and A l exander v . Per r i l l , 916 F. 2 d 1392 (9 th C i r. 1 9 9 0 ), tw o p e rti n e n t c a se s d e c i d e d b yth e N i n th C i rc u i t: I n H aygood t he pri son er w as i n carcer at ed al most f i v e y ear s b ey ond hi s l aw f u lt er m a s a r es u l t of pr i s on of f i ci al s ’ f ai lur e t o i n

v es t i gat e. B eca us e p r i s o n o f f i c i a l s f a i l e d t o a d d r e s s H a y g o o d 's cr e dib l e ev i dence t hathe w as en t i t l ed t o r el eas e, t h e C o u r t o f

A p p e a ls f

o r t h e N in

t h C ir c u it co n cl u d e d t h a t t h e p ri so n o ffi ci al s w ere del ib er at elyi n

d i f f er en t t o H ay good’ s con s t i t u t i on al r i g h t s . S i m i l a r l y , i n A lex a n d e r v . P e rr ill , a pr i s on er presen t ed credi b l e ev i den ce t hat pr i son off i ci al s, a fte r b e i ng p u t o n

n o ti c e , si mp l yre fu se d to i n v es t i gat e a c omput at i o n a l er r or . T her e pr i s on of f i ci al s “s t ood i dl yb yaf

t eran i n ma t e r ai s ed t he p r o p o s it io n t h a t h e w a s b e ing u nla w f u lly i n ca rce rated an d h ad p rov i d ed d o cu mentary e v i d e n c e i n

s up p o rt o f h i s c l a i m .” M oor e, 986 F

. 2d at686. N ot i ng t he un d i s pu t ed f act s s how ed t hatt he Par ol e B oar d di d n ot i g n or e M oor e’ s com pl ai n t or19 o p e ra te o u tsi d e sta nd a rd o p e ra ti ng p ro c e d u re s, w e d e c l i n e d to find that t he P arol e B oard’s i n v est i gati on

of M oo re’ s cl ai ms, t h o u g h t a k ing f

iv e m o n t h s , w a s in e p t o r in e f

f e c t u a l s u c h t h a t it c o u l d c o n s ti tute d e l ib e ra te i nd i ff e re n c e . I d . a t 6 8 7

. I n t hi s cas e, t he D i s t r i ctC our t f ound t hatt he ev i dence w as s u f f i ci en t t o s how M on

t anez c omm uni cat ed w i t h T homps on at l e a s t t w i c e a nd m a yb e t h r e e t i m e s d ur i ng h i s i nc a r c e r a t i o n. T hou gh n ot r ef

er enced in

i t s opi ni on , pr es u ma b l yt he D i s t r i ct C o ur t w a s r e f

e r r i ng t o t h e t w o i n

m a t e r e q ue s t f

o r m s s e n t by M on t anez t o t he pr i s on r e c o r d of f i ce. M on

t anez s ub mi t t ed t he f i r s t com muni cat i on on O ct ob er 10, 1998, i n w hi ch he r equ es t ed copi es of hi s com mi t me n t paper s . ( A pp. at90. ) H e not ed i n t he req u est t h at h e n ee d ed the co mmi tmen t pap ers to w ri te t h e “ C l erk of C our t s ” t o f

i x hi s det ai n er . ( I d. ) Wi t hi n t hr ee da y s , T homps on r es ponded and i n f

or me d M on

t anez t hatt he D epar t me n t of C o rrecti o n s req u i red $

. 1 0 for ea ch co p yo f co mmi tmen t pap ers requ est ed b yan i n

mat e an d i n st ru ct ed hi m t o sub mi t a cash sl ip so t hats he cou l d pr oc es s hi s r equ es t

. ( I d. ) M on t anez w as t h e r e a f t e r t r a ns f

e r r e d t o P h i l a d e l p h i a C o unt yP r i s o n, a nd T h o m p s o n

h e r s e lf h a d n o f

ur t h e r c o n

t a c t w it h M o n

t a n e z un t il 2001 w hen he r et ur n ed t o SC I A lb i on . A t t hat poi n t , on M ay22, 2001, he s ub mi t t ed anot heri n ma t e r equ es t f

or m, r ef er enci ng t he c o m m i t me n

t cr edi t i s s u e and as ki ng i f J u dge Smi t h had r es ponded t o T ho mps on ’ s l et t erab ou t t he s ub j ect

. T homps on a gai n res po nded w i t hi n t hree day s, exp l ai ni ng t he progress o n M o n t a n e z ’ s i nq ui r y: I n a ns w e r t o t h e y o ur f i r s t q u e s t i o n r e g a r d i ng C o mm i t. C re d i t, w e se n t th e l e tter to J u d g e S mi th o n 2

- 8

- 0 1 , no t 4

- 1 6

- 0 1 , t h a t w a s t h e l a s t t i m e I s e nt20 y oucor r es pondence. U n t i l I hear f

r om t he J u dge, I can n ot gi v e y oucr edi t perD O C pol i cy , i t i s n ot app ropri at e t o gi v e pre- commi t men t credi t for t i me b e i ng s e r v e d i n s a t i s f

a c t i o n o f a s e p a r a t e a nd di s t i n cts en

t ence. ( A pp. at 91. ) T he D i s t r i ct C our t di d n ot i den t i f ya n y o t h e r com muni cat i on

b et w een T h o m ps on

and M on

t anez. A t her d ep o si ti o n , T h o mp so n

ex p l ai n ed that i n

i n v esti g ati ng M o n

tan ez ’s c la i m , s h e r e v ie w e d h is f ile w it h h e r lo c a l s up e r v is o r in acc or dance w i t h s t andar d D O C pol i cyand det er min ed t her e w as a v i a b l e q u e sti o n

w i th re g a rd to h i s p ro p e r c o m m it m e n t cr e d i t. ( A pp. at105. ) T homps on and hers uper v i s or t her ef or e i n v ol v ed D O C ’ s ma i n r ecor ds s uper v i s or and i t s l egalcoun s elatt he ce n t r al D O C o f f i c e . T h i s p r o c e s s r e s u l t e d i n M o nt a ne z r e c e i v i ng com mi t me n

t cr edi t f

o r t h e per i od of

i n car cer at i on

b ef or e t he Smi t h Sen

t enci ng. A f

t er apply i ng t hi s cr edi t , M on t anez’ s r ev i s ed s e n t e n c e c a l c ul a t i o n

p l a c e d h i m be yo nd h i s m a x i m um inc a r c e r a t io n

d a t e . T h e r e f

o r e , M o n

t a n e z w a s im m e d ia t e ly r el eas ed on

D ece mb er15, 2001. C on s i der i ng t he l egal r u l es , w hi ch w er e w el les t ab l i s hed a t t h e r e le v a n

t t im e , in lig h t o f t h e f a c t s a nd c ir c u m s t a n c e s o f t h is cas e as r ecoun

t ed ab ov e, i t w as ob

j ect i v e l y r eas on ab l e f

or T h o mp so n to h a v e b e l i e v e d th a t h e r p a rti c u l a r c o nd u c t int h is cas e w as l aw f

u land i n keeping w i t h M o n

t anez’ s con s t i t u t i on al r i ght s . T her e ar e no f

act s i n t he r ecor d, ei t heri den

t i f i ed b yt he D i s t r i ctC our t or f

ound b your ow n

r ev i e w , s ug ges t i ng t hat T homps on

i gn or ed M on

t anez’ s cl ai ms or ev en

f ai l ed t o f ol l ow es t ab l i s hed D O C pol i cydur i ng heri n v ol v e m e n t w i t h t he i n v esti g ati o n

o f M o n tan ez ’s cl ai ms. I n

b o th o f T h o m p so n ’s21 r e c o r d e d e x c h a ng e s w i t h M o nt a ne z , s h e r e s p o nd e d q u i c k l ya nd r el at ed m at er i ali n f

or ma t i on b ack t o M on

t anez. I t i s cl earf

r om her s econd excha nge and M on t anez’ s s ub s equ en

t r el eas e t hats he t o o k M o nt a ne z ’ s c l a i m s s e r i o u s l y : s h e f o r w a r d e d t h e c o m m i t m e nt cr edi t i s s u e t o t he appr opr i at e p a r t i e s f or r ev i ew , i n clu di ng her s uper v i s or , t he s en

t enci ng j u dge, and ev en

D O C ’ s cen

t r alof f i ce a nd l e g a l d e p a r t m e nt

. T h e p r o c e s s d i d t a k e a s i g ni f i c a nt a m o unt o f t im e t o r e s o lv e , b u t M o n t a n e z ’ s c la im f

o r c o m m it m e n

t c r e d it d i d n o t i n vo l ve s i m p l e d e t e r m i n a t i o n s , w h i c h i s d e m o n s t r a t e d by t he par t i es ’ ext en s i v e b r i e f i n g on t hi s i s s u e and our ow n di scu ssi on

ab ov e. As am i cus a r g u e s o n b e h a lf o f M o n t a n e z , h is r el eas e d a t e w as “ com pl i cat ed b ymu l t ipl e con v i ct i on s , par ol e, par ol e v i ol at i on s , ‘ b ackt i me , ’ and v aca t ed s en t ences . ” (A m i cus B r . a t 2 0

. ) A d d i t i o na l l y , t h e D i s t r i c t C o ur t d i d no t i d e nt i f ya ny f act s t hatw ou l d s u gges t T h o mps on ’ s act i on s w er e i n an yw ay re s p o n s ib l e fo r t h e d e l a yi n re l e a s i ng M o n

ta n e z . Ac c o rd i ng l y , w e d o n o t be l i e ve t h e e s t a bl i s h e d l a w i n t h i s c a s e w o ul d h a ve p ut T h o m p s o n

o n n o t ic e t h a t h e r c o nd u c t w a s c le a r lyunla w f u l; s u mm ar yj u dgme n

t b as ed on

qu al i f i ed i mm uni t yi s appr opr i at e.

I V . CO NC L US I ON F or t he f or egoi ng r eas on s , A ppel l an t T homps on

i s en t i t l ed to q u a l i fi e d i mm uni tyw i th re sp e c t to M o n tan e z ’s E i g h th A me ndme n

t cl ai ms . A ccor di ngl y, w e w i l lr ev er s e t he D i s t r i ct C our t ’ s deni alof s u mm ar y j u dgme n t on t hi s i s s u e and r em and f or p r o c e e d i ng s c o ns i s t e nt w i t h t h i s o p i ni o n.