Adrian Johnson
TLDR:
Ransomware attack forced LA Superior Courts to close, impacting jury duty portal. The courts are set to reopen the next day, but users should expect delays.
Summary:
In a rare move, the Los Angeles County Superior Court system closed on Monday due to a ransomware attack that severely impacted their network computer systems. The Presiding Judge, Samantha P. Jessner, stated that the attack necessitated shutting down nearly all network systems to protect the integrity and confidentiality of information. Despite efforts to swiftly restore and recover the systems, critical systems remained offline as of Sunday evening, leading to the decision to close the courts for one day. However, all 36 courthouses are set to reopen on Tuesday, with users warned to expect delays.
Notably, systems affected by the attack included external systems like the MyJuryDuty Portal and the court’s website, as well as internal systems such as case management systems. The court acted quickly to mitigate the attack by shutting down network computer systems immediately upon detection, although operations remained open on Friday. The ransomware attack was confirmed to be unrelated to a previous CrowdStrike glitch that had caused disruptions globally on the same day.
Investigations involving various law enforcement agencies were launched, with no evidence suggesting compromise of court users’ data at the time of the breach. The court attributed its timely response to heavy investments in cybersecurity and increased staffing in the cybersecurity division. This incident marked the second major ransomware attack against a prominent Los Angeles public agency in recent years, following a similar attack on the Los Angeles Unified School District in 2022.
