Judge Janis Lynn Sammartino — Federal Sentencing Patterns

U.S. District Judge Janis Lynn Sammartino sits in the Southern District of California (SDCA) and granted a downward variance in 687 of 840 federal sentencings (81.8%) from FY2012–FY2025. This page shows aggregate sentencing patterns for Judge Janis Lynn Sammartino, including the most common reasons cited on the Statement of Reasons (SOR) for granting a downward variance.

Top reasons Judge Janis Lynn Sammartino grants downward variances

Reasons included across all guideline chapters (687 below-guideline cases out of 840 cases identified)

ReasonCasesAvg % Below Min
  1. 1.(5K3.1) Early Disposition. Fast Track program441-47.3%
  2. 2.(5K2.0) General aggravating or mitigating circumstance269-49.8%
  3. 3.COVID-19/pandemic69-62.4%
  4. 4.First Step Act Safety Valve38-63.6%
  5. 5.Criminal History Issues (aggregated reason)15-48.1%
  6. 6.Reduce Disparity (aggregated reason)9-49.0%
  7. 7.Avoid unwarranted sentencing disparities among defendants8-54.4%
  8. 8.Early Plea8-37.3%
  9. 9.Mental and Emotional Conditions (aggregated reason)7-60.8%
  10. 10.(5H1.4) Physical condition6-80.2%

Zone D sentencing variance — Judge Janis Lynn Sammartino

Imprisonment-only recommended sentencing zone (offense level 14+ at any criminal history). Of Judge Janis Lynn Sammartino's 643 Zone D sentencings, 557 (86.6%) fell below range.

Zone D · imprisonment recommended643 cases
  • Within range
    80(12.4%)
  • Below range
    557(86.6%)
    avg −45.3% below min
  • Above range
    6(0.9%)
    avg +51.3% above max

Need case-level analysis for Judge Janis Lynn Sammartino?

Want to see what those 687 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 Janis Lynn Sammartino's trial tax (sentences after trial vs. plea) and the average §5K1.1 cooperation discount.

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