The Superior Court of Los Angeles County, the largest trial court in the United States, was forced to close on Monday following a ransomware attack that disrupted its computer system. The cyber incident was discovered late last week, prompting officials to disable the court's computer network as a precautionary measure.
Despite efforts to contain the damage, the system remained offline throughout the weekend, leading to the closure of all 36 courthouse locations in the county on Monday. Presiding Judge Samantha P. Jessner described the attack as unprecedented and emphasized the need to safeguard the integrity and confidentiality of information.
Fortunately, after extensive work by court staff and security experts, it was announced that all 36 courthouses would reopen on Tuesday, July 23. However, court users were advised to anticipate delays and potential disruptions due to limited functionality as the system is restored.
Officials clarified that the ransomware attack was unrelated to the recent CrowdStrike software update issue that affected various sectors globally. An initial investigation indicated that there was no evidence of compromised user data, providing some reassurance to those impacted by the incident.
The Superior Court of Los Angeles County serves a significant population of 10 million residents across the county through its extensive network of courthouses. In 2022 alone, the court handled nearly 1.2 million cases and conducted 2,200 jury trials, underscoring its vital role in the local judicial system.
