You are reading way, way too much into this. The order simply directs a response to the McDaniel petition for an emergency writ of mandamus by a date certain. This is not a decision on the merits or a finding of wrongdoing; rather its SOP in a proceeding like this.
No I am not reading anything into it. This judge could have denied the write of mandamus. But he ordered the Harris County and the MS AG to respond and he also asked McDaniel to supplement to clarify terms.
That’s a win no matter how you look at it.