Hello, OP and guy who is tracking down the FISA court for you. Happy to answer any questions!
2. Will you consider filing a Motion to the Court mandating the Court acceptance electronic filings (CM/ECF), since 1. presumably all Americans have standing; 2. your experience alone should be prima facie evidence that the Court is purposely limiting access to the Court itself; 3. it is an exception that a Federal Court does not permit CM/ECF (see: http://www.uscourts.gov/FederalCourts/CMECF/Courts.aspx) - I am of the opinion that #2 will cause the most damage because it will open the floodgates and overwhelm the Court.
Give em hell.
2. There's nothing I'm aware of to force a court to accept electronic filings. But they really should accept paper filings directly.
As to #2, as far as I am aware, there is nothing to "force a court to accept electronic records"; however, this would be in the inherent discretion of the Court. Especially persuasive is the argument that in the Court Rules themselves, under the Filing provision, there is no filing rule just a request to call the clerk, which on its face appears to be a deliberate attempt to limit access to the Court - again this is just a Motion, it may be denied, like the Motions to Quash may be denied, but I imagine a Judge would have a hard time justifying the denial a Motion to permit electronic filing as such a limited issue certainly does not jeopardize national security in any sense, unless they consider citizens exercising their rights a threat to national security (not that US citizens have a right to e-file, but they have a right to petition the court, and the argument is that said right is being denied through the existing Court Rules).
Notwithstanding, the Motions to Quash will likely put great weight on the judicial economy, and I am sure it is all fun and games in the FISA Court until the Judges have to cancel their golf games to do real work. It always makes me smile thinking of the government employees who without any thought take a personal interest in the subversion of the rights of citizens, and the crushing weight of the citizens who will fight for their rights/liberties.
As you noted this is for pro se parties, but otherwise not so surprising based on my personal experience, even for attorneys despite mandatory e-filing in many instances, local rules or more specific Judge rules require courtesy hard copies hand delivered to chambers in addition to the e-filing, such is the nature of 80-90 year old Federal Judges who have no intent on retiring and no intent to learn how to turn on a computer. In fairness, and I certainly do not want to come off as unfairly taking shots at the judiciary, I have met a few old timer Judges who could run circles around me on the computer.
Keep up the good work. :)