Judge Donald Ellsworth Walter — Federal Sentencing Patterns

U.S. District Judge Donald Ellsworth Walter sits in the Western District of Louisiana (WDLA) and granted a downward variance in 41 of 128 federal sentencings (32.0%) from FY2012–FY2025. This page shows aggregate sentencing patterns for Judge Donald Ellsworth Walter, including the most common reasons cited on the Statement of Reasons (SOR) for granting a downward variance.

Top reasons Judge Donald Ellsworth Walter grants downward variances

Reasons included across all guideline chapters (41 below-guideline cases out of 128 cases identified)

ReasonCasesAvg % Below Min
  1. 1.Criminal History Issues (aggregated reason)14-43.0%
  2. 2.Mule/Role in the offense7-35.0%
  3. 3.Reduce Disparity (aggregated reason)5-35.2%
  4. 4.Acceptance of responsibility4-37.8%
  5. 5.Delay in prosecution; evidentiary concerns4-16.7%
  6. 6.Provide Restitution to any victims of the offense3-61.8%
  7. 7.(5H1.6) Family ties and responsibilities3-44.9%
  8. 8.(5K2.0) General aggravating or mitigating circumstance3-36.6%
  9. 9.(5H1.4) Drug dependence and alcohol abuse3-12.2%

Zone D sentencing variance — Judge Donald Ellsworth Walter

Imprisonment-only recommended sentencing zone (offense level 14+ at any criminal history). Of Judge Donald Ellsworth Walter's 90 Zone D sentencings, 33 (36.7%) fell below range.

Zone D · imprisonment recommended90 cases
  • Within range
    54(60.0%)
  • Below range
    33(36.7%)
    avg −35.9% below min
  • Above range
    3(3.3%)
    avg +30.0% above max

Need case-level analysis for Judge Donald Ellsworth Walter?

Want to see what those 41 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 Donald Ellsworth Walter's trial tax (sentences after trial vs. plea) and the average §5K1.1 cooperation discount.

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