November 5, 2024 at 09:39AM
A statewide IT outage in Washington courts is linked to “unauthorized activity,” causing service disruptions. The Administrative Office of the Courts is securing systems and restoring services, although intermittent access issues may arise. Courts will continue with essential operations, and updates will be provided as the situation develops.
### Meeting Takeaways
1. **Statewide IT Outage in Washington**:
– An IT outage due to “unauthorized activity” is impacting all courts in Washington State.
– The AOC stated that issues may continue for several days.
2. **Response from the AOC**:
– Immediate actions have been taken to secure critical systems and restore services.
– Public accessibility to the court systems and website may face intermittent impacts.
– The incident has not been classified as a cyberattack; however, security precautions are being taken.
3. **Operational Status of Various Courts**:
– Municipal courts using the state’s case management systems are significantly affected.
– Specific details provided by Pierce County indicate that district courts are operating with limited services, while superior courts face minimal disruption.
– Essential hearings and probation appointments continue as scheduled, while customers are encouraged to contact courts for confirmations on services.
– Alternative programs are unaffected and will proceed as usual.
4. **Comparative Situation in California**:
– San Joaquin County’s superior court is experiencing a related ongoing issue described as a “cybersecurity incident.”
– Their network is down, affecting various online services, but the court remains open for in-person hearings.
– Regular updates are promised concerning the resolution timeline.
5. **Statements from Key Officials**:
– Wendy Ferrell (AOC) emphasized precautionary shutdowns of systems and collaboration with experts for restoration.
– Rebecca C Robertson (King County District Court) noted that municipal courts relying on state systems are most impacted.
This summary captures the essential outcomes from the discussion surrounding the IT outages affecting court services in Washington and California, as well as the measures being taken in response to these incidents.