The US Supreme Court [official website] ruled [opinion, PDF] unanimously Thursday in Betterman v. Montana [SCOTUSblog materials] that the Sixth Amendment [text] right to a “speedy trial” ends at conviction. A criminal defendant is entitled to a speedy and public trial, and this case dealt with the question of whether protecting a criminal defendant from inordinate delay in the final disposition of his case falls under the provisions of the amendment. Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg wrote for the court:

We hold that the guarantee protects the accused from arrest or indictment through trial, but does not apply once a defendant has been found guilty at trial or has pleaded guilty to criminal charges. For inordinate delay in sentencing, although the Speedy Trial Clause does not govern, a defendant may have other recourse, including, in appropriate circumstances, tailored relief under the Due Process Clauses of the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments.

Justice Clarence Thomas filed a concurring opinion, joined by Justice Samuel Alito. Justice Sonia Sotomayor also filed a concurring opinion.

Thursday’s ruling affirms a decision [opinion, PDF] of the Supreme Court of Montana. The court heard oral arguments [JURIST report] in the case in March.