https://www.uscourts.gov/statistics-reports/covering-civil-cases-journalists-guide
Since all states allow this practice, your state isn’t exempt from doing it.
If the court ended the case that would be legal (not necessarily just) but AFAIK this case has not ended. Assuming that is true, the judge should not admit his bias. He should keep his mouth shut until the case ends, to avoid confirming my suspicion of his bias, but too late now.