BREAKING: REPORT: Same judge reversed for bizarre Trump-favorable rulings regarding search warrant case will be in charge of new federal indictments against Trump.
@lauren It'll be interesting to see what that means.
On the one hand: yes, bad sign because one assumes her inclinations haven't greatly changed.
On the other hand: the vector for most judges over their careers is deeper *into* the legal system. If she has aspirations of one day being higher on the ladder, this kind of feedback from higher courts is exactly the kind of thing she should be responsive to.
This case will highlight what kind of judge she is.
@mtomczak There are also ways she may be bumped. But if she stays on, in case of conviction she would choose the sentence. All problematic, of course.
@lauren The good news is that for federal crime, she's obliged to follow the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
The minimums for what Trump is accused of are basically already "This man dies in prison."
(* This man specifically; Trump is 76 and not in super-great health).
@mtomczak It is possible to diverge from the guidelines up or down, I believe, in special circumstances at least, which presumably this case might invoke. But Trump might not outlive the appeals process.
@mtomczak She could still postpone all sorts of stuff, throw out evidence, etc. Which would all be appealed up to SCOTUS, taking forever. Of course it's not guaranteed she won't be bumped out, as I said.