Michael's previous resentment over Hanna's dominance in their relationship resurfaces, motivating Michael to visit the judge in order to somehow influence her, as she had influenced him.
Though Michael had grown resentful toward Hanna during the two weeks away from the trial, here he becomes numb again, perhaps as a result of meeting the judge and thus of the return of the trial. After the discussion of indifference (as related to perpetuating evil) that he's just had, however, this numbness now seems more sinister than ever.
Lee, Sophia. "The Reader Part 2, Chapter 16." LitCharts. LitCharts LLC, 9 Mar 2017. Web. 25 Apr 2019.
Lee, Sophia. "The Reader Part 2, Chapter 16." LitCharts LLC, March 9, 2017. Retrieved April 25, 2019. https://www.litcharts.com/lit/the-reader/part-2-chapter-16.