With apostasy they should only go judicial after a second admonition according to their elder book.
The WT ref is this:
*** w88 4/15 p. 27 par. 5 Discipline That Can Yield Peaceable Fruit ***
"The same was to occur with apostates, such as Hymenaeus: “As for a man that promotes a sect, reject him after a first and a second admonition;"
However the definition is quite narrow as in promoting a sect.
The time gap makes me think they have consulted the CO or the Branch Office who have said go back and give it a go to snatch you out of the fire cover their backs.