Isn't there something tragically ironic about the judge's statement?
You mean kinda like, I only have the authority to overrule written laws, the constitution and write my own laws as I see them, but I don't have REAL POWER the kind it takes to remove a semicolon and replace it with "or."
It's a simple mockery of justice. He did what he wanted to do, and used the most convenient excuse. Any excuse will do.
What is ominous is that he is so brazen about it. He's essentially admitting that a major miscarriage of justice is happening, in an ongoing situation, but, he's going to look the other way because one tiny jot is out of order.
Sort of like a SWAT team showing up to a hostage situation, and instead of taking down the perps, they're tsk-tsking around the parking lot writing tickets on the overdue meters -- for the cars belonging to the hostages.