Navigation U.S. Southern District halts e-filing of sealed criminal documents after cyberattack
The Southern District of Florida has suspended the electronic filing of confidential documents in criminal cases following a cyberattack on the federal court system’s core case management platforms.
“Pursuant to Administrative Order 2025-54, Local Rule 5.4 (Filings Under Seal; Disposal of Sealed Materials) is suspended as applied to electronically filed sealed documents in criminal cases only,” according to a notice posted on the Southern District webpage. “All sealed criminal filings shall be filed conventionally with the Clerk’s Office in paper form, by mail, or hand-delivery, regardless of e-filing status.”
The notice follows national news reports of an extensive cyberattack last week on the CM/ECF and PACER case management platforms in a dozen district courts across the country. Reports from Politico and The New York Times blame Russian and other unidentified cybercrime groups.
