[Bruce Campbells Chin]

I am assuming that some sort of bureaucrat decides what even even makes it as far as the docket.

You'd be wrong. The docket is just the written record of every case that has been filed, and its disposition, relevant orders, etc.. It's clerical.

[Hieronymus]

I like being wrong publicly if it means I learn something.

Does a computer accept the filing or a person? I understood from the article that some steps were being skipped (various levels of court), which either means a person decided to allow the skips to be stepped, or they were able to check a box on a computer program that claimed exemption from the steps.

Which was it? If one gets past the person or the computer is the next step collecting four judges?