Judge Thomas J. Whelan — Federal Sentencing Patterns

U.S. District Judge Thomas J. Whelan sits in the Southern District of California (SDCA) and granted a downward variance in 12 of 17 federal sentencings (70.6%) from FY2018–FY2025. This page shows aggregate sentencing patterns for Judge Thomas J. Whelan, including the most common reasons cited on the Statement of Reasons (SOR) for granting a downward variance.

Top reasons Judge Thomas J. Whelan grants downward variances

Reasons included across all guideline chapters (12 below-guideline cases out of 17 cases identified)

ReasonCasesAvg % Below Min
  1. 1.(5K3.1) Early Disposition. Fast Track program7-45.0%
  2. 2.(5K2.0) General aggravating or mitigating circumstance4-28.4%

Zone D sentencing variance — Judge Thomas J. Whelan

Imprisonment-only recommended sentencing zone (offense level 14+ at any criminal history). Of Judge Thomas J. Whelan's 13 Zone D sentencings, 8 (61.5%) fell below range.

Zone D · imprisonment recommended13 cases
  • Within range
    4(30.8%)
  • Below range
    8(61.5%)
    avg −28.2% below min
  • Above range
    1(7.7%)
    avg +24.4% above max

Need case-level analysis for Judge Thomas J. Whelan?

Want to see what those 12 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 Thomas J. Whelan's trial tax (sentences after trial vs. plea) and the average §5K1.1 cooperation discount.

EXPLORE JUST METRICS →