Cleveland Municipal and Housing Court remains inoperative as the shutdown stretches into its third week. While arraignments for jailed individuals are proceeding, most other court functions remain stalled, with no clear timeline for a full restoration.
More than a week after the cyberattack that crippled court operations, the hallways are sparsely populated, with security personnel outnumbering those seeking to resolve cases. Court officials have yet to provide a definitive update, saying only that the investigation is ongoing. “They provide so many services to so many people constantly. It really affects people’s lives. So I think even being down for a day is very noticeable,” said Alex Hamerstone, a security expert with the information security consulting firm TrustedSec.
The cyberattack occurred on Feb. 23. A week later, Ohio’s cyber-response team completed its mission at the courthouse. “It may be because they’ve stopped the threat, they’ve stopped any bleeding, they’ve gotten rid of any access the attackers may have had, and now we’re in a phase of rebuilding things,” Hamerstone explained.
For residents like Willie Phelps, the shutdown has brought frustration and uncertainty. Unable to resolve a dispute with his landlord, he also worries about the security of his personal information. “Are we going to get our identities stolen? What is the impact of this?” Phelps asked.
Court officials have not responded to repeated inquiries about the attack, including questions about the perpetrators, potential ransom demands, or whether sensitive personal data has been compromised. Hamerstone emphasized the importance of transparency during incidents like this. “My recommendation is having daily updates, right? Even if they’re written or press conferences, just to let people know—even if the answer is we don’t yet know—but people are very concerned,” he said.
Although he is not directly involved in this case, Hamerstone warned that a lack of communication fuels speculation and public anxiety. “I really do think there’s a higher responsibility for organizations who have access to your data that you don’t have a choice in to make sure we’re keeping it safe,” he added.
The court’s silence raises questions. “You want to make sure the information you’re sharing with the public is what actually happened to tamp down speculation and give the right message. It may also be they’re still figuring it out—they may not know,” Hamerstone said.
At the time of writing, court spokesperson Ed Ferenc stated the court will reopen to the public on Wednesday, March 12. All criminal and civil cases that were set for hearings between Feb. 24 and March 11 will be rescheduled no less than 30 days after the court reopens. As more details emerge, we will continue to provide updates.