The judge is condemned when the criminal is acquitted.

When a wrong is let through, the failure moves to whoever had the power to address it. People notice that, and what they conclude is not that the offender was clever but that the system is unserious. A reputation for fairness is destroyed far more often by inaction than by hard decisions.

If you have authority over a situation where something clearly wrong is being tolerated, understand that the tolerance is now yours. Deal with the small case rather than waiting for one large enough to justify the discomfort. People are watching what you allow, not what you say you value.