Tell the court what you said here. Emphasize that you stopped completely, waited, then proceeded with extreme care, etc., basically that you waited for the light to change and didn't flagrantly blow through it. Judges aren't always that unsympathetic. I went to court for a moving violation involving passing a school bus. I explained the circumstance, etc. (won't bore you with it here). Anyway he fined me $15 and literally smirked and said "get out of here".
If it helps your case, see if there's a pedestrian crossing button at that traffic light. If there is none, say you would have used it if it were present.
Dave