That must be out of context. Three-year olds don't even have a fully developed theory of mind: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theory_of_mind.
They confuse what they think themselves with what they think the other thinks.
They confuse what they think themselves with what they think the other thinks.
Later they back-pedaled on the statement (presumably because of the fall-out) but at the moment of the original statement they were very much aware of what they were saying and the context seems to be accurate.
After all - he was TEACHING them immigration law. With patience. I have no experience with USA legal system but teaching law does not seem like a item on a judge's jobs description list.
The shameful part was that said kids were brought before him.
“I have to do a case-by-case basis determination,” Weil responded, before declaring that he has taught immigration law to 3- and 4-year-olds.