Simple, the judge was getting paid
Yes. It is apparently a tactic (not just by gangs, but by various illegal entities such as the Mafia) as long as humans have been organized with a judiciary.
Buy off the judges. Then everything goes smoothly for them.
Honestly, I would almost feel better if the judge was getting paid.
Having someone in judgeship with so much stupidity is a little scary, given how much power they have appropriated illegally.