I agree that they're limiting access ad that I could probably ask for some public method of filing, whether it be paper or electronic. Note that I've filed so far about 6 motions for file electronically in U.S. District Courts and Courts of Appeals. Four of them have been granted, 1 rejected because the judge mistakenly thought the court didn't have the technical ability to do it for pro se litigants, and one rejected without reason, the latter being by a Court of Appeals. It's surprising but the courts are not firmly on-board with the e-filing -- unless, of course, they think it wil make things easier for them.
>It's surprising but the courts are not firmly on-board with the e-filing -- unless, of course, they think it wil make things easier for them.
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.
The first time I spoke in front of a federal judge, the ~90 year old judge walked into the room with a seeing eye dog. There are indeed awesome judges out there (and this may or may not have been one of them -- the case was settled after the first conference), but many have little incentive to adapt to the new.
