Judge Eric F. Melgren — Federal Sentencing Patterns

U.S. District Judge Eric F. Melgren sits in the District of Kansas (DKS) and granted a downward variance in 301 of 701 federal sentencings (42.9%) from FY2012–FY2025. This page shows aggregate sentencing patterns for Judge Eric F. Melgren, including the most common reasons cited on the Statement of Reasons (SOR) for granting a downward variance.

Top reasons Judge Eric F. Melgren grants downward variances

Reasons included across all guideline chapters (301 below-guideline cases out of 701 cases identified)

ReasonCasesAvg % Below Min
  1. 1.Criminal History Issues (aggregated reason)98-40.7%
  2. 2.Pursuant to a NONbinding (or unknown type) plea agreement39-38.8%
  3. 3.(5K3.1) Early Disposition. Fast Track program22-28.3%
  4. 4.(5H1.6) Family ties and responsibilities21-66.4%
  5. 5.Mule/Role in the offense21-51.5%
  6. 6.Rehabilitation19-63.2%
  7. 7.Reduce Disparity (aggregated reason)19-32.5%
  8. 8.(5H1.5) Previous employment record18-84.7%
  9. 9.Conduct on Release/Bond/Supervision18-63.7%
  10. 10.(5K2.0) General aggravating or mitigating circumstance15-51.3%

Zone D sentencing variance — Judge Eric F. Melgren

Imprisonment-only recommended sentencing zone (offense level 14+ at any criminal history). Of Judge Eric F. Melgren's 531 Zone D sentencings, 241 (45.4%) fell below range.

Zone D · imprisonment recommended531 cases
  • Within range
    261(49.2%)
  • Below range
    241(45.4%)
    avg −38.3% below min
  • Above range
    29(5.5%)
    avg +48.0% above max

Need case-level analysis for Judge Eric F. Melgren?

Want to see what those 301 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 Eric F. Melgren's trial tax (sentences after trial vs. plea) and the average §5K1.1 cooperation discount.

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