Some important context I didn't see in the tech press: the previous day, the prosecution violated Rittenhouse's Fifth Amendment rights and various other due process rights while questioning him on the stand. At one point, the prosecution attempted to defend themselves by arguing to the visibly angry judge that they had a "good faith explanation." The judge responded, "I don't believe you."

From what the judge has seen in this trial, the prosecution has shown it will stoop to any low to get prejudicial evidence in front of the jury. I don't blame him at all for not just taking the prosecution's word for the veracity, authenticity and provenance of the photo.