Judge Scott L. Palk — Federal Sentencing Patterns

U.S. District Judge Scott L. Palk sits in the Western District of Oklahoma (WDOK) and granted a downward variance in 74 of 147 federal sentencings (50.3%) from FY2017–FY2025. This page shows aggregate sentencing patterns for Judge Scott L. Palk, including the most common reasons cited on the Statement of Reasons (SOR) for granting a downward variance.

Top reasons Judge Scott L. Palk grants downward variances

Reasons included across all guideline chapters (74 below-guideline cases out of 147 cases identified)

ReasonCasesAvg % Below Min
  1. 1.Criminal History Issues (aggregated reason)30-35.2%
  2. 2.Reduce Disparity (aggregated reason)22-40.7%
  3. 3.Cooperation without motion (not §5K1.1) (aggregated reason)20-44.7%
  4. 4.(5H1.4) Drug dependence and alcohol abuse13-43.1%
  5. 5.(5H1.1) Age (Defendant's youth or old age)12-41.6%
  6. 6.(5H1.6) Family ties and responsibilities11-48.4%
  7. 7.Mule/Role in the offense11-34.2%
  8. 8.(5H1.5) Previous employment record9-51.8%
  9. 9.Lack of Youthful Guidance9-33.9%
  10. 10.Acceptance of responsibility8-32.7%

Zone D sentencing variance — Judge Scott L. Palk

Imprisonment-only recommended sentencing zone (offense level 14+ at any criminal history). Of Judge Scott L. Palk's 134 Zone D sentencings, 72 (53.7%) fell below range.

Zone D · imprisonment recommended134 cases
  • Within range
    54(40.3%)
  • Below range
    72(53.7%)
    avg −33.9% below min
  • Above range
    8(6.0%)
    avg +93.2% above max

Need case-level analysis for Judge Scott L. Palk?

Want to see what those 74 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 Scott L. Palk's trial tax (sentences after trial vs. plea) and the average §5K1.1 cooperation discount.

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