Will having a "tough" sentencing judge impact Lewis Libby's plea considerations?

As I have spotlighted in a number of prior posts linked below, the sentencing and plea dynamics surrounding Lewis Libby in the CIA leak case are very intriguing.  Adding to the intrigue is news (from TalkLeft noting this NY Times article) that the judge assigned to Libby's case, District Judge Reggie B. Walton, is "known for handing down tough sentences."

Having a tough judge could cut two ways as Libby and his defense team consider the possibility of a plea.  Libby might be more inclined to plead guilty because he may now have to fear an especially long sentence if he is convicted after a trial.  Or, Libby might be less inclined to plead guilty because he may now have to fear significant prison time even if he takes a plea.

On a related front, Dan Markel over at PrawfBlawg has this interesting post exploring whether Libby's past public service ought to play a role at any eventual sentencing.

Related posts:

• Has Patrick Fitzgerald done guideline calculations?
• Sentencing dynamics in CIA leak investigation
• More on Lewis Libby's possible plea and sentencing dynamics
• Still more on Libby's plea and sentencing dynamics

UPDATE: I have just seen this ABA Journal e-Report article effectively discussing the basic plea and sentencing issues raised in the Libby case.