Judge Walter Herbert Rice — Federal Sentencing Patterns

U.S. District Judge Walter Herbert Rice sits in the Southern District of Ohio (SDOH) and granted a downward variance in 106 of 187 federal sentencings (56.7%) from FY2012–FY2025. This page shows aggregate sentencing patterns for Judge Walter Herbert Rice, including the most common reasons cited on the Statement of Reasons (SOR) for granting a downward variance.

Top reasons Judge Walter Herbert Rice grants downward variances

Reasons included across all guideline chapters (106 below-guideline cases out of 187 cases identified)

ReasonCasesAvg % Below Min
  1. 1.Reduce Disparity (aggregated reason)27-39.5%
  2. 2.(5K2.0) General aggravating or mitigating circumstance23-50.5%
  3. 3.Pursuant to a NONbinding (or unknown type) plea agreement23-37.2%
  4. 4.Criminal History Issues (aggregated reason)21-54.4%
  5. 5.(5H1.6) Family ties and responsibilities20-58.2%
  6. 6.Mental and Emotional Conditions (aggregated reason)14-55.0%
  7. 7.Rehabilitation12-69.6%
  8. 8.(5H1.4) Drug dependence and alcohol abuse11-35.2%
  9. 9.Policy Disagreement with the Guidelines (Kimbrough v. U.S. 552 U.S. 85 (2007)10-48.3%
  10. 10.(5K2.20) Aberrant Behavior8-77.8%

Zone D sentencing variance — Judge Walter Herbert Rice

Imprisonment-only recommended sentencing zone (offense level 14+ at any criminal history). Of Judge Walter Herbert Rice's 147 Zone D sentencings, 94 (63.9%) fell below range.

Zone D · imprisonment recommended147 cases
  • Within range
    49(33.3%)
  • Below range
    94(63.9%)
    avg −41.4% below min
  • Above range
    4(2.7%)
    avg +63.5% above max

Need case-level analysis for Judge Walter Herbert Rice?

Want to see what those 106 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 Walter Herbert Rice's trial tax (sentences after trial vs. plea) and the average §5K1.1 cooperation discount.

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