GRE Grammar

Hi, I’m wondering why proximity doesn’t apply in this context.

The sentence is-
The judge’s standing in the legal community, though shaken by phony allegations of wrongdoing, emerged, at long last (blank).

Here, why is emerged not modifying the allegations, but the standing/ reputation?

Is there a general rule that can help me see where proximity is applicable? Like the use of words like that, which, etc?