Judge Kathleen Cardone — Federal Sentencing Patterns

U.S. District Judge Kathleen Cardone sits in the Western District of Texas (WDTX) and granted a downward variance in 486 of 1,045 federal sentencings (46.5%) from FY2012–FY2025. This page shows aggregate sentencing patterns for Judge Kathleen Cardone, including the most common reasons cited on the Statement of Reasons (SOR) for granting a downward variance.

Top reasons Judge Kathleen Cardone grants downward variances

Reasons included across all guideline chapters (486 below-guideline cases out of 1,045 cases identified)

ReasonCasesAvg % Below Min
  1. 1.(5H1.6) Family ties and responsibilities90-37.9%
  2. 2.(5H1.1) Age (Defendant's youth or old age)52-43.2%
  3. 3.Pursuant to a NONbinding (or unknown type) plea agreement44-51.0%
  4. 4.Proposed changes to the 2D1.1 drug quantity table31-38.0%
  5. 5.(5K2.20) Aberrant Behavior28-40.5%
  6. 6.Remorse16-41.9%
  7. 7.(5H1.4) Drug dependence and alcohol abuse16-36.5%
  8. 8.(5K3.1) Early Disposition. Fast Track program15-64.8%
  9. 9.First Step Act Safety Valve13-25.6%
  10. 10.Mental and Emotional Conditions (aggregated reason)11-56.5%

Zone D sentencing variance — Judge Kathleen Cardone

Imprisonment-only recommended sentencing zone (offense level 14+ at any criminal history). Of Judge Kathleen Cardone's 625 Zone D sentencings, 292 (46.7%) fell below range.

Zone D · imprisonment recommended625 cases
  • Within range
    313(50.1%)
  • Below range
    292(46.7%)
    avg −37.3% below min
  • Above range
    20(3.2%)
    avg +84.4% above max

Need case-level analysis for Judge Kathleen Cardone?

Want to see what those 486 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 Kathleen Cardone's trial tax (sentences after trial vs. plea) and the average §5K1.1 cooperation discount.

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