LASC: SUPERIOR COURT OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY CLOSED TODAY AS WORK CONTINUES TO GET SYSTEMS BACK ONLINE AFTER RANSOMWARE ATTACK
The Superior Court of Los Angeles County will be closed on July 22, 2024, as the Court works diligently to repair and reboot network systems that were severely impacted by a ransomware attack first detected the morning of Friday, July 19. This closure includes all 36 courthouse locations throughout Los Angeles County.
“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,” said Presiding Judge Samantha P. Jessner. “While the Court continues to move swiftly towards a restoration and recovery phase, many critical systems remain offline as of Sunday evening. One additional day will enable the Court’s team of experts to focus exclusively on bringing our systems back online so that the Court can resume operations as expeditiously, smoothly and safely as possible.”
Court staff have been working vigorously over the past 72 hours in partnership with outside Consultants, vendors, other courts and law enforcement to get the Court’s network systems back online. These systems span the Court’s entire operation, from external systems such as the MyJuryDuty Portal and the Court’s website to internal systems such as the Court’s case management systems.
While the team of experts has made significant progress, there remain some challenges that are delaying progress. With many of the Court’s network systems still inaccessible as of Sunday evening, the Court will close tomorrow in order to provide one additional day to get essential networks back online. At this time, the Court does not anticipate being closed beyond Monday, July 22. The Court recognizes the significance of a court closure on the communities it serves and the mission it abides by, however, it is essential that judicial officers and court staff are able to work in an environment that is safe and secure and with the information they need to meet the Court’s mission at their disposal.
The Court is confident the closure will not exceed one day as it continues to make progress and overcome obstacles.
Please consult General Order 2024-GEN-009-00 (found below), issued by Presiding Judge Samantha P. Jessner and granted by Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero under Government Code section 68115, for specific information relating to filing deadlines and continuances.
Further information on reopening will be shared as it becomes available. Please follow the Court on ‘X’, @LASuperiorCourt, and Instagram, @LASuperiorCourt, for the latest updates.
GENERAL ORDER REGARDING COURT CLOSURE DUE TO CYBER ATTACK
Following a cyber attack on the Court’s information system on July 19, 2024, every electronic platform containing court data was rendered inaccessible as was any device that was connected to the internet, including the Court’s telephone systems. Court personnel and information security experts have worked diligently around the clock to reconfigure and resurrect Court servers, restore databases, and test related applications and integrations. As they ascertain the extent of the intrusion, take measures to prevent further harm, and work to restore access, they have encountered obstacles that make it impossible for judges and court personnel to conduct proceedings on Monday, July 22, 2024.
To establish operational connectivity, safeguard the integrity of Court data, and implement measures to prevent further harm, the Court will close all 36 of its courthouses, effective Monday July 22, 2024.
The Court submitted a Request for a Judicial Emergency Order to the Chief Justice and Chairperson of the Judicial Council of California Patricia Guerrero pursuant to Government Code section 68115. Chief Justice Guerrero granted the Court’s request to close the Court on July 22, 2024, and granted the presiding judge authority to implement the following measures (a copy of the order is attached).
THE COURT HEREBY FINDS, AND ORDERS AS FOLLOWS:
- July 22, 2024, is deemed a court holiday for purposes of computing the time for filing papers with the Court under Code of Civil Procedure sections 12 and 12a.
- The period provided in sections 583.310 and 583.320 of the Code of Civil Procedure to bring an action to trial is extended by one court day for cases with a statutory deadline of July 22, 2024.
- The period provided in section 825 of the Penal Code to bring a criminal defendant before a magistrate after arrest is extended by one court day in cases with a July 22, 2024, statutory deadline.
- The period provided in section 859b of the Penal Code to hold a preliminary examination is extended by one court day in cases with a July 22, 2024, statutory deadline.
- The period provided in section 1382 of the Penal Code within which a trial must be held is extended by one court day in cases with a July 22, 2024, statutory deadline.
- The Court extends by one court day the duration of any temporary restraining order that would otherwise expire on July 22, 2024. The hearing to determine whether to issue a permanent restraining order is continued to July 23, 2024, at 8:30 a.m.
- July 22, 2024, is deemed a court holiday for purposes of computing time under Welfare and Institutions Code sections 313, 315, 334, 631, 632, 637, and 657.
- If the deadline to release a minor taken into custody pending dependency proceedings for whom the statutory deadline to release a minor from custody provided in section 313 of the Welfare and Institutions Code was July 22, 2024, it is extended by one court day.
- Detention hearings held pursuant to section 315 of the Welfare and Institutions Code that were scheduled for July 22, 2024, are continued by one court day.
- Detention hearings held pursuant to sections 632 and 637 of the Welfare and Institutions Code that were scheduled for July 22, 2024, are continued by one court day.
- Any hearing on wardship petitions pursuant to section 657 of the Welfare and Institutions Code scheduled for July 22, 2024, are continued by one court day.
- The deadline for disposition hearings conducted pursuant to section 450 of the Welfare and Institutions Code scheduled for July 22, 2024, is continued by one court day.
THIS ORDER IS EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY AND WILL REMAIN IN EFFECT UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.
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