Judge C. Ashley Royal — Federal Sentencing Patterns

U.S. District Judge C. Ashley Royal sits in the Middle District of Georgia (MDGA) and granted a downward variance in 123 of 479 federal sentencings (25.7%) from FY2012–FY2025. This page shows aggregate sentencing patterns for Judge C. Ashley Royal, including the most common reasons cited on the Statement of Reasons (SOR) for granting a downward variance.

Top reasons Judge C. Ashley Royal grants downward variances

Reasons included across all guideline chapters (123 below-guideline cases out of 479 cases identified)

ReasonCasesAvg % Below Min
  1. 1.Criminal History Issues (aggregated reason)29-36.9%
  2. 2.(5K2.0) General aggravating or mitigating circumstance21-42.0%
  3. 3.Avoid unwarranted sentencing disparities among defendants18-47.0%
  4. 4.(5H1.6) Family ties and responsibilities11-60.0%
  5. 5.(5H1.5) Previous employment record10-60.5%
  6. 6.(5H1.4) Physical condition9-70.0%
  7. 7.(5H1.1) Age (Defendant's youth or old age)9-61.7%
  8. 8.Proposed changes to the 2D1.1 drug quantity table7-56.7%
  9. 9.(5K3.1) Early Disposition. Fast Track program7-50.4%
  10. 10.COVID-19/pandemic7-24.2%

Zone D sentencing variance — Judge C. Ashley Royal

Imprisonment-only recommended sentencing zone (offense level 14+ at any criminal history). Of Judge C. Ashley Royal's 369 Zone D sentencings, 98 (26.6%) fell below range.

Zone D · imprisonment recommended369 cases
  • Within range
    257(69.6%)
  • Below range
    98(26.6%)
    avg −41.7% below min
  • Above range
    14(3.8%)
    avg +59.5% above max

Need case-level analysis for Judge C. Ashley Royal?

Want to see what those 123 below-guideline cases actually looked like? Just Metrics shows you the actual matched cases — same judge, same guideline chapter, same guideline range — and tells you what they did.

Just Metrics also surfaces Judge C. Ashley Royal's trial tax (sentences after trial vs. plea) and the average §5K1.1 cooperation discount.

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