I think the answer to this might be hard to understand if you live in a wealthy, western country with relatively low levels of crime but it’s very detrimental for society if law enforcement (which includes police, judges, prosecutors, etc) starts getting targeted by criminal organizations. If judges or police let their fears dictate their ability to enforce the law, it becomes easier for criminals to evade the law.

Their lives aren’t worth more, but it’s not about them specifically, it’s about the institution they work for. Imagine if federal judges or US attorneys were getting whacked off for imprisoning mafia associates. Would you want those judges to start giving lenient sentences because they’re scared? Would you want police to let crime occur because they’re scared of ending up like cops in 1990s Medellin?

By creating such stiff penalties, the hope is to discourage criminals from targeting law enforcement so that they can do their jobs. And, mostly, it’s worked. Even relatively powerful gangs or organized crime groups won’t usually touch a beat cop, much less a judge or district attorney, because they know the crackdown will be so swift afterwards.