What he is doing is perfectly logical, if you accept the assumption that he is doing it for partisan political advantage.
Most folks don’t realize how arrogant and obnoxious many judges are. Also lazy and ill informed. He’s been in that position for like 35 years, no one can fire him. They are bound mostly by their own character or lack thereof.
Many of them are obnoxious to the point of insanity.
Not exaggerating. They harass, they misbehave, they are corrupt, the list goes on.
If someone surveilled THEIR phone calls there would be mass bribery and corruption charges resulting.