Is there an attorney in the house? It sounds like a lot of speculation on very little knowledge. For example, aren't we talking about the judge for the preliminary hearing? (Not being an attorney, I don't know about this) but isn't the trial judge a different judge? Having been in several jury pools I know that plea bargaining goes on right up until the time that the trial begins. (In one instanace I had to cool my heals in the waiting room while the attorney's bargained the case -- A jury was never seated.)
Oldguy