LA COUNTY PUBLIC DEFENDER’S OFFICE SAFEGUARDS CLIENTS’ RIGHTS FOLLOWING RANSOMWARE ATTACK ON LA SUPERIOR COURT SYSTEMS

The LA County Public Defender’s Office is actively communicating with the LA Superior Court to ensure the protection of our clients’ rights. While the attack, which began in the early morning hours of Friday, July 19, did not impact our systems, it has posed significant challenges to the Court’s operations. As the Court recovers, all public-facing Court operations will be closed on Monday, July 22, 2024. All Public Defender offices will remain open and staffed. Attorneys will be available to provide legal advice and support to clients.

Our efforts with the Superior Court and County departments are focused on minimizing disruptions and safeguarding the rights of our clients. The right to a speedy trial is a cornerstone of justice, and this remains our priority. We are actively monitoring the impact of the attack on Court schedules and will take all necessary legal steps to protect our clients’ constitutional and statutory rights.

We are also prioritizing an expedited release process for those that are eligible. Our team is on high alert to identify any delays and will advocate for immediate corrective actions to prevent undue hardship on our clients.

We urge our clients to stay in close contact with their assigned public defenders for the latest updates on their cases.

For more information on LA County’s response, visit lacounty.gov/court/.

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