Normal for a Judge to suggest a ... Criminal Trials, Hearings

I suggest you discuss your concerns with YOUR lawyer, ONLY your lawyer.

Generally, a bench trial has its unique advantages, especially for a high profile defendant, heinous crimes being charged, matters concerning disputed facts, or crimes evoking great emotion throughout the community.

 

Probably not, but whether it is or isn't "normal" is pretty well meaningless.

Are you looking for folks to make up hypotheticals? Needless to say, no one on this or any other message board knows why an unknown judge in an unknown county in Massachusetts made a suggestion in a case we know absolutely nothing about. You didn't say what your connection is to the case in question, but you certainly can ask the prosecutor or the defense attorney about this.