A lawyer of mine working a civil case in the United States District Court told me about his meeting in the judge's chambers with counsel from the other side.
They were all asked to wait a moment, while the judge read into record the sentencing imposed for a completely separate, criminal case.
She sentenced a man found guilty of five felony charges to 41 years, and the man said, "I am an old man. I can't do 41 years."
The judge responded, "The court understands. We only expect you to try and do best you can."