Suppose you're an atheist in a country of ateists. Would it be a good thing for you to have your punishment changed taking your convictions into account? I'd say "No", because, as good an atheist as you are, there will be a better one doing the judging. You simply consider the belivers wrong and silly. The judge will consider them harmful, to be eliminated. Why, we heard just such a phrase from our very own mmoffitt. And it was he, not you who will do the judging, because, at first, he is more interested in promoting his extremism than you are in promoting your moderation. And, at a later stage, the judgeship attracts people who you wouldn't give time of day anyway.

So, even when you feel that the stars are perfectly allined in your interest - just don't go there. The only safe stand is the principled one.