Judge Mark Saalfield Norris — Federal Sentencing Patterns

U.S. District Judge Mark Saalfield Norris sits in the Western District of Tennessee (WDTN) and granted a downward variance in 50 of 108 federal sentencings (46.3%) from FY2020–FY2025. This page shows aggregate sentencing patterns for Judge Mark Saalfield Norris, including the most common reasons cited on the Statement of Reasons (SOR) for granting a downward variance.

Top reasons Judge Mark Saalfield Norris grants downward variances

Reasons included across all guideline chapters (50 below-guideline cases out of 108 cases identified)

ReasonCasesAvg % Below Min
  1. 1.(5H1.1) Age (Defendant's youth or old age)14-35.2%
  2. 2.Criminal History Issues (aggregated reason)13-47.3%
  3. 3.(5H1.6) Family ties and responsibilities12-49.8%
  4. 4.Reduce Disparity (aggregated reason)10-44.0%
  5. 5.Mental and Emotional Conditions (aggregated reason)9-28.8%
  6. 6.(5H1.4) Drug dependence and alcohol abuse6-58.1%
  7. 7.Acceptance of responsibility5-32.3%
  8. 8.Pursuant to a NONbinding (or unknown type) plea agreement5-19.4%
  9. 9.(5H1.4) Physical condition4-68.0%
  10. 10.Mule/Role in the offense4-39.5%

Zone D sentencing variance — Judge Mark Saalfield Norris

Imprisonment-only recommended sentencing zone (offense level 14+ at any criminal history). Of Judge Mark Saalfield Norris's 91 Zone D sentencings, 40 (44.0%) fell below range.

Zone D · imprisonment recommended91 cases
  • Within range
    50(54.9%)
  • Below range
    40(44.0%)
    avg −36.8% below min
  • Above range
    1(1.1%)
    avg +52.4% above max

Need case-level analysis for Judge Mark Saalfield Norris?

Want to see what those 50 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 Mark Saalfield Norris's trial tax (sentences after trial vs. plea) and the average §5K1.1 cooperation discount.

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