Given the constraints imposed upon those seeking to challenge secret courts, it seems almost nonsensical to use a common-law court model except to present a veneer of respectability. It's essentially a tribunal with members of the judicial branch (presumably) presiding instead of flag officers or civilian bureaucrats.
What the article is purporting is a bit mis-leading. According to the redacted opinion released by EFF's FOIA lawsuit - the context of the law is irrelevant to its interpretation in this specific circumstance.
So it refuses to provide context for decisions. Still, that does seems to ascribe the FISC an air of infallibility.