John, a Mentally Handicapped Adult, Is Charged with Arson

John, a mentally handicapped adult, is charged with arson. Upon hearing the court-appointed psychologist's report and reviewing the defendant's documented history of mental illness, the judge dismissed the criminal charges.
By relating his ethical principles to this specific issue, the judge is providing an example of:

A) meta-ethics.
B) normative ethics.
C) applied ethics.
D) universal ethics.