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 98 of 171 federal sentencings (57.3%) 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 (98 below-guideline cases out of 171 cases identified)

ReasonCasesAvg % Below Min
  1. 1.Criminal History Issues (aggregated reason)43-42.9%
  2. 2.Reduce Disparity (aggregated reason)36-47.8%
  3. 3.Cooperation without motion (not §5K1.1) (aggregated reason)20-44.7%
  4. 4.(5H1.4) Drug dependence and alcohol abuse15-43.1%
  5. 5.(5H1.1) Age (Defendant's youth or old age)14-42.5%
  6. 6.(5H1.6) Family ties and responsibilities13-47.8%
  7. 7.Lack of Youthful Guidance13-44.0%
  8. 8.Mule/Role in the offense12-34.5%
  9. 9.(5H1.5) Previous employment record10-56.6%
  10. 10.(5K2.0) General aggravating or mitigating circumstance9-30.2%

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 158 Zone D sentencings, 94 (59.5%) fell below range.

Zone D · imprisonment recommended158 cases
  • Within range
    54(34.2%)
  • Below range
    94(59.5%)
    avg −35.5% below min
  • Above range
    10(6.3%)
    avg +93.2% above max

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

Want to see what those 98 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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