Judge James Edward Simmons — Federal Sentencing Patterns

U.S. District Judge James Edward Simmons sits in the Southern District of California (SDCA) and granted a downward variance in 43 of 50 federal sentencings (86.0%) from FY2020–FY2025. This page shows aggregate sentencing patterns for Judge James Edward Simmons, including the most common reasons cited on the Statement of Reasons (SOR) for granting a downward variance.

Top reasons Judge James Edward Simmons grants downward variances

Reasons included across all guideline chapters (43 below-guideline cases out of 50 cases identified)

ReasonCasesAvg % Below Min
  1. 1.(5H1.6) Family ties and responsibilities25-50.2%
  2. 2.Acceptance of responsibility21-49.5%
  3. 3.Waiver of appeal20-45.0%
  4. 4.(5K3.1) Early Disposition. Fast Track program19-60.4%
  5. 5.Remorse19-43.9%
  6. 6.(5H1.6) Community ties16-47.9%
  7. 7.Nonviolent Offense15-57.8%
  8. 8.(5K2.0) General aggravating or mitigating circumstance13-64.8%
  9. 9.Early Plea13-55.1%
  10. 10.(5H1.5) Previous employment record12-56.3%

Zone D sentencing variance — Judge James Edward Simmons

Imprisonment-only recommended sentencing zone (offense level 14+ at any criminal history). Of Judge James Edward Simmons's 40 Zone D sentencings, 36 (90.0%) fell below range.

Zone D · imprisonment recommended40 cases
  • Within range
    4(10.0%)
  • Below range
    36(90.0%)
    avg −53.0% below min
  • Above range
    0(0.0%)

Need case-level analysis for Judge James Edward Simmons?

Want to see what those 43 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 James Edward Simmons's trial tax (sentences after trial vs. plea) and the average §5K1.1 cooperation discount.

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