There are reports out there that the judge yesterday told Mayor Warren he would sentence her to prison if convicted. I checked with attorney who heard what I heard: The judge reminded the mayor - as judges do at arraignment - that she should be present for each court date. (1/2)

If she is not, the judge said, she could be tried in her absence and even sentenced to prison in her absence. This was a common judicial admonishment at arraignment. (2/2)

As an addendum, and to be clear - there was no indication that the judge had predetermined a sentence upon a conviction. That would be pretty weird, in fact.