Overview

• U.S. investigators uncovered evidence that Russia played at least a partial role in the recent intrusion into the courts’ CM/ECF and PACER systems.
• The breach likely exposed sealed criminal dockets, indictments, arrest warrants and records that could identify confidential informants.
• Following an urgent internal memo on August 7, courts began moving sensitive files offline and some districts, including the Eastern District of New York, banned sealed PACER filings.
• Early assessments indicate intruders searched midlevel criminal cases in New York and at least seven other federal districts involving foreign-connected matters.
• The Administrative Office of U.S. Courts, DOJ, FBI and DHS are coordinating technical mitigations and an active probe to determine the breach’s scope and attribution.