Judge Virginia A. Phillips — Federal Sentencing Patterns

U.S. District Judge Virginia A. Phillips sits in the Central District of California (CDCA) and granted a downward variance in 130 of 189 federal sentencings (68.8%) from FY2012–FY2023. This page shows aggregate sentencing patterns for Judge Virginia A. Phillips, including the most common reasons cited on the Statement of Reasons (SOR) for granting a downward variance.

Top reasons Judge Virginia A. Phillips grants downward variances

Reasons included across all guideline chapters (130 below-guideline cases out of 189 cases identified)

ReasonCasesAvg % Below Min
  1. 1.(5K2.0) General aggravating or mitigating circumstance72-38.7%
  2. 2.Criminal History Issues (aggregated reason)60-45.4%
  3. 3.(5H1.5) Previous employment record43-46.6%
  4. 4.(5H1.6) Family ties and responsibilities40-45.5%
  5. 5.(5H1.1) Age (Defendant's youth or old age)27-46.0%
  6. 6.Mule/Role in the offense23-39.5%
  7. 7.(5H1.4) Physical condition19-59.7%
  8. 8.(5H1.4) Drug dependence and alcohol abuse15-34.7%
  9. 9.(5K3.1) Early Disposition. Fast Track program14-43.0%
  10. 10.(5H1.2) Educational and vocational skills14-41.4%

Zone D sentencing variance — Judge Virginia A. Phillips

Imprisonment-only recommended sentencing zone (offense level 14+ at any criminal history). Of Judge Virginia A. Phillips's 178 Zone D sentencings, 126 (70.8%) fell below range.

Zone D · imprisonment recommended178 cases
  • Within range
    47(26.4%)
  • Below range
    126(70.8%)
    avg −37.3% below min
  • Above range
    5(2.8%)
    avg +25.3% above max

Need case-level analysis for Judge Virginia A. Phillips?

Want to see what those 130 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 Virginia A. Phillips's trial tax (sentences after trial vs. plea) and the average §5K1.1 cooperation discount.

EXPLORE JUST METRICS →