Judge Nora Barry Fischer — Federal Sentencing Patterns

U.S. District Judge Nora Barry Fischer sits in the Western District of Pennsylvania (WDPA) and granted a downward variance in 156 of 269 federal sentencings (58.0%) from FY2012–FY2025. This page shows aggregate sentencing patterns for Judge Nora Barry Fischer, including the most common reasons cited on the Statement of Reasons (SOR) for granting a downward variance.

Top reasons Judge Nora Barry Fischer grants downward variances

Reasons included across all guideline chapters (156 below-guideline cases out of 269 cases identified)

ReasonCasesAvg % Below Min
  1. 1.Avoid unwarranted sentencing disparities among defendants54-46.2%
  2. 2.Rehabilitation47-53.8%
  3. 3.Remorse42-57.6%
  4. 4.Provide Restitution to any victims of the offense34-69.1%
  5. 5.(5H1.1) Age (Defendant's youth or old age)28-69.6%
  6. 6.Acceptance of responsibility28-44.6%
  7. 7.(5H1.5) Previous employment record25-70.4%
  8. 8.Lack of Youthful Guidance24-52.6%
  9. 9.Mental and Emotional Conditions (aggregated reason)21-53.5%
  10. 10.(5H1.4) Physical condition19-82.0%

Zone D sentencing variance — Judge Nora Barry Fischer

Imprisonment-only recommended sentencing zone (offense level 14+ at any criminal history). Of Judge Nora Barry Fischer's 206 Zone D sentencings, 117 (56.8%) fell below range.

Zone D · imprisonment recommended206 cases
  • Within range
    74(35.9%)
  • Below range
    117(56.8%)
    avg −43.9% below min
  • Above range
    15(7.3%)
    avg +87.2% above max

Need case-level analysis for Judge Nora Barry Fischer?

Want to see what those 156 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 Nora Barry Fischer's trial tax (sentences after trial vs. plea) and the average §5K1.1 cooperation discount.

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