The judge didn't try the case. He merely held a hearing on granting injunctive relief. And he can only use what is laid before him WHEN CONSIDERING INJUNCTIVE RELIEF. The relief comes first; the trial comes second. Again, I think Congress blew it.
The Congress passed what they could get the Dems to agree to.
He stated very clearly what the basis was under which he could grant injunctive relief. He then denied it on the grounds that they were unlikely to prevail. He ruled they were unlikely to prevail based on the findings of the trial court, even though the legal procedure prescribed by the Congress required him to try the case de novo.
What was laid before him for the injunction was that plaintiff/petitioner would die prior to trial if he did not grant injunctive relief.