Olivia Mitchell
cleveland.com
CLEVELAND — Cleveland Municipal Court remains closed, even after Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine sent the state’s National Guard to help with a cyberattack investigation.
Last week, DeWine authorized the guard’s Cyber Reserve Force to assist in the probe. The team is made up of trained members who assist communities with cyberattacks.
The team’s work was completed at the court on Friday, according to a statement obtained by 3News.
However, the court and all internal systems remain shut down, more than a week after officials announced the incident on Feb. 23 .
The court’s website remains shuttered, and only essential staff members have been allowed inside the building. Most court hearings have been canceled, though some bond proceedings have taken place.
In a statement on Tuesday, Cleveland Municipal Judge Michelle D. Earley , the administrative and presiding jurist, said the court is working to determine how the attack happened and the right time to open.
Specific details related to how and why the court was targeted have not been released. It is unknown if officials have identified potential suspects in the attack.
“The Cleveland Municipal Court is continuing its investigation into the cybersecurity incident,” Earley said in the statement.
“Upon identifying the incident, we immediately initiated our response protocols, implemented containment measures and launched an investigation with the assistance of third-party professionals. We also notified law enforcement and are supporting its investigation.”
The attack is the second time a Cleveland government office has been attacked in less than a year.
Cleveland City Hall was struck by a ransomware attack last summer, as city buildings were closed for more than a week. Officials were similarly tight-lipped regarding details of the attack.
Months after that attack, officials have not addressed what happened at City Hall.
Attempts to reach state officials about the National Guard’s team were unsuccessful Tuesday.
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