L.A. County Superior Court Shut Down Due to Ransomware Attack

The Los Angeles County Superior Court, the largest superior court system in the U.S., has been forced to shut down after falling victim to a ransomware attack. The attack, which occurred on Friday, July 19, led to the closure of all 36 courts in the L.A. County court system on Monday, July 22.

Despite the system and network troubles caused by the attack, recent cybersecurity upgrades enabled the IT staff to respond quickly and minimize the damage. The court expects to reopen on Tuesday, July 23, after working tirelessly to restore the systems.

Presiding Judge Samantha P. Jessner stated, “The Court experienced an unprecedented cyber-attack…resulting in the need to shut down nearly all network systems to contain the damage and protect the integrity of information.” The attack affected critical systems such as the MyJuryDuty Portal and internal case management systems.

While the court has made significant progress in restoring the systems, challenges still remain, causing delays in the process. The court has not identified the threat actor responsible for the attack, and many functions on the court website are still unavailable.

The L.A. County court system serves 10 million residents, with over 1 million cases filed annually. The court has invested heavily in cybersecurity operations, which may have helped in quickly detecting and addressing the intrusion. The court is receiving support from various law enforcement agencies to investigate the attack and ensure the security of court user data.

Ransomware attacks on courts have become a growing concern globally, with incidents reported in the U.S., Switzerland, and Australia. The L.A. County court system’s experience serves as a reminder of the importance of robust cybersecurity measures in protecting sensitive information and ensuring the smooth operation of essential services.