Judge Sharon Lovelace Blackburn — Federal Sentencing Patterns

U.S. District Judge Sharon Lovelace Blackburn sits in the Northern District of Alabama (NDAL) and granted a downward variance in 41 of 121 federal sentencings (33.9%) from FY2012–FY2023. This page shows aggregate sentencing patterns for Judge Sharon Lovelace Blackburn, including the most common reasons cited on the Statement of Reasons (SOR) for granting a downward variance.

Top reasons Judge Sharon Lovelace Blackburn grants downward variances

Reasons included across all guideline chapters (41 below-guideline cases out of 121 cases identified)

ReasonCasesAvg % Below Min
  1. 1.Remorse10-70.4%
  2. 2.Criminal History Issues (aggregated reason)10-58.7%
  3. 3.(5H1.5) Previous employment record8-61.3%
  4. 4.Avoid unwarranted sentencing disparities among defendants4-79.6%
  5. 5.Little/No Incarceration for Priors4-53.9%
  6. 6.Rehabilitation3-54.6%
  7. 7.(5H1.2) Educational and vocational skills3-48.5%
  8. 8.(5H1.6) Family ties and responsibilities3-46.6%
  9. 9.Proposed changes to the 2D1.1 drug quantity table3-8.8%

Zone D sentencing variance — Judge Sharon Lovelace Blackburn

Imprisonment-only recommended sentencing zone (offense level 14+ at any criminal history). Of Judge Sharon Lovelace Blackburn's 81 Zone D sentencings, 23 (28.4%) fell below range.

Zone D · imprisonment recommended81 cases
  • Within range
    58(71.6%)
  • Below range
    23(28.4%)
    avg −37.6% below min
  • Above range
    0(0.0%)

Need case-level analysis for Judge Sharon Lovelace Blackburn?

Want to see what those 41 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 Sharon Lovelace Blackburn's trial tax (sentences after trial vs. plea) and the average §5K1.1 cooperation discount.

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