Is race always the issue?

Last summer I received a citation after being being caught for underage drinking and had to show up to court in order to receive a punishment. I was not the only person that got caught on that day, my girlfriend and one of my close friends also received a citation that day. We were supposed to show up to court on the same day but something happened and the date was reschedule, so now my girlfriend and my friend had the same court date while my was schedule for a month later. So both my girlfriend and friend went on the day they were supposed to and received very different penalties. My girlfriend's case was dismissed and she didn't pay anything while my friend had to pay $140. I always wondered if the fact that my girlfriend was let go for free had to due with her skin color. First of all they both receive sentencing from the same judge, who was also the same judge on the day I was schedule to be in court and happened to be black. My girlfriend is a young white girl, very innocent looking with orange hair and blue eyes. My friend is Hispanic ( from Colombia) with a light skin color, blonde hair and brown eyes. He looks white at first sight until you hear his Spanish accent. On my day, I went to court and my case was also dismissed. Juan, my friend, and I aren't that different. We dress about the same, are the same age and about the same heights, have about the same mannerism and it was our first offense (my girlfriend included). What do you think led to him having to pay $140? Do you think race had anything to do with it or was he shit out of luck?