It could be as lenient as putting a disciplinary letter in her personnel file, or as severe as ordering that she be defrocked or even excommunicated.
Several current and former law enforcement officials said they were also troubled by the appearance that Mr. Smith, known to his friends and colleagues as "J.J.," may have received lenient treatment as a way of avoiding further embarrassment for the bureau in a case that threatened to expose national security secrets.
The lenient verdict, as well as the assertion by Turner's father that his son was paying "a steep price … for only 20 minutes of action", sparked a global uproar that has included a recall campaign against the judge, Aaron Persky.
Superior Court Judge Kathleen Kennedy could also sentence the defendants to a sentence as lenient as probation.
As an "employer" the House of Lords is about as lenient as they come.
Without a national law regulating drugs in racing, New Mexico regulators can be as lenient as they wish in disciplining drug violators.
Its rulings are often harsh, including beheading for the crime of witchcraft, but sometimes also lenient, as in cases of rape or wife-beating.
Jackson alternated between confronting Bryant over his behavior - like not playing in a game when he was physically capable of doing so - and trying to be lenient as Bryant went through his legal problems.
But these two appeals court decisions have largely squelched that position, making it clear that judges can be as tough – or lenient – as they see fit, so long as the particular sentence is justifiable under the circumstances.
Halifax's Paul Davidson was banned for three matches and fined £250 for being dismissed in the same game, although his punishment also seemed lenient as it was his second red card in consecutive matches.
Ivan Kaufman, chief executive of Arbor Commercial Mortgage, a Long Island-based firm that was named as a victim in the 2008 indictment, wrote in October that while his company was "vigorously seeking repayment of the Arbor loan through a foreclosure action and related court proceedings," he asked the judge to "be as lenient as you may see fit" in Mr. Hochfelder's sentencing.
