Judge Susan Owens Hickey — Federal Sentencing Patterns

U.S. District Judge Susan Owens Hickey sits in the Western District of Arkansas (WDAR) and granted a downward variance in 265 of 594 federal sentencings (44.6%) from FY2012–FY2025. This page shows aggregate sentencing patterns for Judge Susan Owens Hickey, including the most common reasons cited on the Statement of Reasons (SOR) for granting a downward variance.

Top reasons Judge Susan Owens Hickey grants downward variances

Reasons included across all guideline chapters (265 below-guideline cases out of 594 cases identified)

ReasonCasesAvg % Below Min
  1. 1.Reduce Disparity (aggregated reason)113-24.8%
  2. 2.Criminal History Issues (aggregated reason)94-22.6%
  3. 3.(5K2.0) General aggravating or mitigating circumstance46-29.2%
  4. 4.(5H1.4) Drug dependence and alcohol abuse39-21.7%
  5. 5.Mental and Emotional Conditions (aggregated reason)18-26.9%
  6. 6.Mule/Role in the offense16-27.4%
  7. 7.Sufficient punishment14-24.9%
  8. 8.Avoid unwarranted sentencing disparities among defendants13-23.4%
  9. 9.General Guideline Adequacy Issues (aggregated reason)11-28.9%
  10. 10.Proposed changes to the 2D1.1 drug quantity table11-23.5%

Zone D sentencing variance — Judge Susan Owens Hickey

Imprisonment-only recommended sentencing zone (offense level 14+ at any criminal history). Of Judge Susan Owens Hickey's 512 Zone D sentencings, 233 (45.5%) fell below range.

Zone D · imprisonment recommended512 cases
  • Within range
    270(52.7%)
  • Below range
    233(45.5%)
    avg −26.2% below min
  • Above range
    9(1.8%)
    avg +65.7% above max

Need case-level analysis for Judge Susan Owens Hickey?

Want to see what those 265 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 Susan Owens Hickey's trial tax (sentences after trial vs. plea) and the average §5K1.1 cooperation discount.

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