Judge Susan Richard Nelson — Federal Sentencing Patterns

U.S. District Judge Susan Richard Nelson sits in the District of Minnesota (DMN) and granted a downward variance in 117 of 231 federal sentencings (50.6%) from FY2012–FY2025. This page shows aggregate sentencing patterns for Judge Susan Richard Nelson, including the most common reasons cited on the Statement of Reasons (SOR) for granting a downward variance.

Top reasons Judge Susan Richard Nelson grants downward variances

Reasons included across all guideline chapters (117 below-guideline cases out of 231 cases identified)

ReasonCasesAvg % Below Min
  1. 1.Remorse81-41.8%
  2. 2.Reduce Disparity (aggregated reason)71-44.1%
  3. 3.Acceptance of responsibility68-44.8%
  4. 4.Criminal History Issues (aggregated reason)55-44.7%
  5. 5.(5H1.6) Family ties and responsibilities48-45.3%
  6. 6.Mental and Emotional Conditions (aggregated reason)46-43.4%
  7. 7.Lack of Youthful Guidance41-41.3%
  8. 8.(5H1.1) Age (Defendant's youth or old age)34-54.4%
  9. 9.Nonviolent Offense34-45.2%
  10. 10.(5H1.4) Drug dependence and alcohol abuse34-43.2%

Zone D sentencing variance — Judge Susan Richard Nelson

Imprisonment-only recommended sentencing zone (offense level 14+ at any criminal history). Of Judge Susan Richard Nelson's 202 Zone D sentencings, 105 (52.0%) fell below range.

Zone D · imprisonment recommended202 cases
  • Within range
    87(43.1%)
  • Below range
    105(52.0%)
    avg −37.5% below min
  • Above range
    10(5.0%)
    avg +25.7% above max

Need case-level analysis for Judge Susan Richard Nelson?

Want to see what those 117 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 Richard Nelson's trial tax (sentences after trial vs. plea) and the average §5K1.1 cooperation discount.

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