Judge Richard G. Stearns — Federal Sentencing Patterns

U.S. District Judge Richard G. Stearns sits in the District of Massachusetts (DMA) and granted a downward variance in 194 of 293 federal sentencings (66.2%) from FY2012–FY2025. This page shows aggregate sentencing patterns for Judge Richard G. Stearns, including the most common reasons cited on the Statement of Reasons (SOR) for granting a downward variance.

Top reasons Judge Richard G. Stearns grants downward variances

Reasons included across all guideline chapters (194 below-guideline cases out of 293 cases identified)

ReasonCasesAvg % Below Min
  1. 1.(5H1.6) Family ties and responsibilities28-52.8%
  2. 2.Criminal History Issues (aggregated reason)20-38.7%
  3. 3.Pursuant to a NONbinding (or unknown type) plea agreement19-48.6%
  4. 4.(5H1.1) Age (Defendant's youth or old age)15-45.5%
  5. 5.(5K2.20) Aberrant Behavior15-40.8%
  6. 6.(5H1.5) Previous employment record14-58.8%
  7. 7.Avoid unwarranted sentencing disparities among defendants13-53.4%
  8. 8.Mule/Role in the offense13-43.5%
  9. 9.(5K2.0) General aggravating or mitigating circumstance12-30.4%
  10. 10.Reduce Disparity (aggregated reason)11-31.5%

Zone D sentencing variance — Judge Richard G. Stearns

Imprisonment-only recommended sentencing zone (offense level 14+ at any criminal history). Of Judge Richard G. Stearns's 238 Zone D sentencings, 166 (69.7%) fell below range.

Zone D · imprisonment recommended238 cases
  • Within range
    67(28.2%)
  • Below range
    166(69.7%)
    avg −39.1% below min
  • Above range
    5(2.1%)
    avg +13.9% above max

Need case-level analysis for Judge Richard G. Stearns?

Want to see what those 194 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 Richard G. Stearns's trial tax (sentences after trial vs. plea) and the average §5K1.1 cooperation discount.

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