Judge Howard Curtis Nielson — Federal Sentencing Patterns

U.S. District Judge Howard Curtis Nielson sits in the District of Utah (DUT) and granted a downward variance in 127 of 156 federal sentencings (81.4%) from FY2021–FY2025. This page shows aggregate sentencing patterns for Judge Howard Curtis Nielson, including the most common reasons cited on the Statement of Reasons (SOR) for granting a downward variance.

Top reasons Judge Howard Curtis Nielson grants downward variances

Reasons included across all guideline chapters (127 below-guideline cases out of 156 cases identified)

ReasonCasesAvg % Below Min
  1. 1.(5H1.4) Drug dependence and alcohol abuse35-41.7%
  2. 2.Reduce Disparity (aggregated reason)35-41.6%
  3. 3.Acceptance of responsibility29-38.8%
  4. 4.Pursuant to a NONbinding (or unknown type) plea agreement27-40.5%
  5. 5.Mule/Role in the offense25-42.4%
  6. 6.Waiver of appeal24-41.7%
  7. 7.(5H1.1) Age (Defendant's youth or old age)23-45.2%
  8. 8.Criminal History Issues (aggregated reason)23-45.0%
  9. 9.(5K3.1) Early Disposition. Fast Track program17-44.8%
  10. 10.Mental and Emotional Conditions (aggregated reason)16-49.4%

Zone D sentencing variance — Judge Howard Curtis Nielson

Imprisonment-only recommended sentencing zone (offense level 14+ at any criminal history). Of Judge Howard Curtis Nielson's 141 Zone D sentencings, 116 (82.3%) fell below range.

Zone D · imprisonment recommended141 cases
  • Within range
    22(15.6%)
  • Below range
    116(82.3%)
    avg −40.1% below min
  • Above range
    3(2.1%)
    avg +24.1% above max

Need case-level analysis for Judge Howard Curtis Nielson?

Want to see what those 127 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 Howard Curtis Nielson's trial tax (sentences after trial vs. plea) and the average §5K1.1 cooperation discount.

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