Los Angeles Superior Court Shuts Down After Ransomware Attack

The Superior Court of Los Angeles County will remain closed tomorrow, July 22, 2024, as it continues efforts to recover from a severe ransomware attack that disrupted its operations on July 19.

Judge Samantha P. Jessner announced the closure, explaining that the Court's network systems were severely impacted, necessitating a complete shutdown to protect data integrity and restore functionality.

“The Court experienced an unprecedented cyber-attack on Friday, which has resulted in the need to shut down nearly all network systems in order to contain the damage, protect the integrity and confidentiality of information, and ensure future network stability and security,” Judge Jessner stated.

Since the attack, court staff, alongside external consultants and law enforcement agencies, have been working tirelessly to repair the systems. This includes critical platforms such as the MyJuryDuty Portal, the Court's website, and internal case management systems. Despite significant progress, many systems remain offline, prompting the decision to extend the closure through Monday.

The Court's executive team highlighted that this measure is crucial to ensure a safe and secure working environment for judicial officers and court staff. The aim is to resume operations swiftly and without compromising the Court's mission to serve the community.

All Superior Court of Los Angeles County locations closed tomorrow as work continues to get systems back online after ransomware attack. More information here: https://t.co/0ZzCLxqXyS pic.twitter.com/fYVg1s7Xoy

— Superior Court of Los Angeles County (@LASuperiorCourt) July 22, 2024

The Los Angeles Superior Court is the largest unified trial court in the United States, with 36 courthouse locations across Los Angeles County. The Court serves approximately 10 million residents and handles over 2.5 million cases annually. The ransomware attack's disruption underscores the Court's critical role and the extensive impact such an event can have on legal proceedings and public services.

In response to the attack, Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero granted the Court's request for a Judicial Emergency Order under Government Code section 68115. This order includes several provisions to mitigate the impact on legal proceedings:

• July 22, 2024, is deemed a court holiday for filing deadlines.
• Statutory deadlines for trials, preliminary examinations, and restraining orders are extended by one court day.
• Specific hearings and detention hearings under the Welfare and Institutions Code are continued by one court day.

Court officials urge the public to stay updated through their official channels on ‘X' (formerly Twitter) and Instagram at @LASuperiorCourt for the latest information on the reopening and further developments.

Currently, there is no word on whether the ransomware actors stole sensitive files during their intrusion into the Court's systems.