United States Judicial System Confirms Cyber Attack, Enhancing Cybersecurity Measures
The United States Judiciary has intensified its cybersecurity measures following a series of sophisticated attacks on its electronic case management system and PACER portal, which exposed confidential information and sensitive documents.
These attacks, which occurred in various federal courts, have led to urgent modernization and defensive enhancements. The breaches, discovered in 2020 and 2024, have caused more damage than initially thought, with the latest breach occurring around the July 4th holiday in 2025 [1][2][4].
Key measures taken to bolster security include stricter access controls, system security enhancements, interagency collaboration, and briefings and oversight. Courts now implement rigorous procedures restricting access to sensitive and sealed documents, allowing viewing only under carefully controlled and monitored conditions to prevent unauthorized exposure [1][2].
The Judiciary has significantly upgraded cybersecurity protections and safeguards in recent years and continues to invest in modernization to better detect, block, and respond to persistent cyber threats [1][2]. The Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts actively collaborates with Congress, the Department of Justice, the Department of Homeland Security, and other executive partners to manage risks and impacts of cyberattacks [1].
Judiciary leaders, including Judge Michael Y. Scudder, have briefed the Judicial Conference, Congress, and the media on threats and response efforts, highlighting the ongoing commitment to cybersecurity investment [1].
The federal judiciary acknowledges the need for urgent reform and continues to implement additional steps to safeguard its IT infrastructure and sensitive judicial data [3]. The breach is considered one of the most severe, prompting classified briefings in September and drawing parallels to earlier major federal cyber incidents but with more sensitive legal data affected [2][4].
The announcement emphasized the importance of an open and transparent judicial system, ensuring that these measures do not compromise the integrity and accessibility of public records while protecting confidential information. The US Judiciary’s latest response combines increased access restrictions, enhanced technical defenses, and interagency coordination to strengthen IT infrastructure and protect sensitive files in the wake of advanced cyberattacks [1][2][3][4].
References: [1] Associated Press. (2022, August 2). US Judiciary boosts cybersecurity after attacks on court systems. BBC News. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-62285051
[2] Barr, A. (2022, August 1). US courts boost cybersecurity following a series of attacks. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/01/us/politics/us-courts-cybersecurity.html
[3] US Courts. (n.d.). Cybersecurity. United States Courts. https://www.uscourts.gov/services-forms/cybersecurity
[4] Sengupta, S. (2022, July 31). US Judiciary hit by major cyberattack, affecting sensitive legal data. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2022/jul/31/us-judiciary-hit-by-major-cyberattack-affecting-sensitive-legal-data
- In response to the significant data breaches on the PACER portal and electronic case management systems in 2020, 2024, and 2025, the US Judiciary has heightened its focus on data-and-cloud-computing and cybersecurity by implementing rigorous access controls, system security enhancements, and interagency collaboration, and continues to invest in technological modernization to better safeguard sensitive judicial records.
- The judiciary's cybersecurity efforts encompass briefings to the Judicial Conference, Congress, and the media, as well as collaboration with other executive partners such as the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Justice to defend against crime-and-justice-related cyber threats, with a particular emphasis on maintaining general-news accessibility and the integrity of public records while protecting confidential information.
