Makenna Cramer
covers the daily drumbeat of Southern California — events, processes and nuances making it a unique place to call home.
Published July 22, 2024 5:01 AM
The Los Angeles Superior Court's Stanley Mosk courthouse in downtown L.A.
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Frazer Harrison
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Getty Images
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Topline:
L.A. County’s courts reopened Tuesday after a cyberattack shut down the nation’s largest trial system. However, some court functions are still limited, and people are being warned to expect delays.
Why it matters: The Friday attack forced the shutdown of nearly all network systems — from the jury portal to the court’s website. In a statement issued late Sunday, Presiding Judge Samantha Jessner called the attack “unprecedented.”
Keep reading... for more on what's affected and what's next.
L.A. County’s courts reopened Tuesday after a cyberattack shut down the nation’s largest trial system — despite work all weekend to fix the damage.
Court officials announced late Monday afternoon that all 36 courthouses will be back in business thanks to the “tireless work of court staff and security experts.”
However, some court functions are still limited, and people are being warned to expect delays.
What's working and what's not
Courthouses: The 36 courthouses are open for business 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Court staff will be available to answer questions.
Court proceedings: If you were scheduled to appear Wednesday, it will proceed as planned. If you were supposed to appear Friday, July 19, or Monday, July 22, you will receive notice of a continuance date in the future from the Court.
Remote appearances:
Court officials said remote appearances are available Wednesday for Civil cases only, including Small Claims and Unlawful Detainers.
But remote appearances are still unavailable for Family law, Probate, and Traffic cases, and people are instructed to appear in person. If you don’t, you’ll be given a continuance date.
WebEx, which is used for Criminal, Mental Health and Juvenile departments, will be available.
Electronic recording: If a courtroom uses this system for capturing the court record, it should be available for use.
Jury duty: Check your summons! If you have jury duty this week (July 22 – July 26) and are in group numbers 5, 6, 87 or 97, and are assigned to the Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center or the San Fernando Courthouse, you were required to report at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, July 24.
If you don't see your number or courthouse location, you are not required to report. If you’re already serving and assigned to a particular case, follow the reporting instructions from that department.
Restraining orders: You can file Temporary Restraining Orders in person at any Family Law Clerk’s Office throughout Los Angeles County.
Electronic filing: Only for "initiating documents." All other documents "remain unavailable at this time."
Call centers: Available during normal business hours. See the list ▶
Self-Help centers: Open Tuesday. These centers help people self-representing in court. Find them here ▶
Court's website: Some pages www.lacourt.org are available now. Court officials say others should work again "as the remainder of the Court’s systems are brought back online."
The backstory
The attack, which was discovered early Friday morning, forced the shutdown of nearly all network systems — from the jury portal to the court’s website.
In a statement issued late Sunday, Presiding Judge Samantha Jessner called the attack “unprecedented.”
How bad is it?
The message across many pages on the lacourt.org site after a cyber attack hobbled the court's systems.
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Screenshot courtesy lacourt.org
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According to the order issued Sunday on the closure: "Every electronic platform containing court data was rendered inaccessible as was any device that was connected to the internet, including the Court’s telephone systems."
Where things stand
Court officials initially thought the Friday outage was due to a widespread global tech outage that hobbled travel, hotels, hospitals and other businesses.
Later on Friday, court officials said they'd determined a ransomware attack was to blame. In a statement, court officials said:
"The attack began in the early morning hours of Friday, July 19. The attack is believed to be unrelated to the CrowdStrike issue currently creating disruptions to technology worldwide."
Sunday evening, Jessner said they needed more time to contain damage, protect the court’s integrity and ensure confidentiality. That means all 36 courthouses remain closed for business Monday.
“While the Court continues to move swiftly towards a restoration and recovery phase, many critical systems remain offline as of Sunday evening," she wrote. "One additional day will enable the Court’s team of experts to focus exclusively on bringing our systems back online so that the Court can resume operations as expeditiously, smoothly and safely as possible.”
What or who caused it?
No word yet from authorities. Friday's statement on the attack said court officials were "working diligently with authorities to investigate the breach and to mitigate its impact." They said they'd "share more information as it becomes available."
Local, state and federal law enforcement agencies are investigating the breach, along with the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services.
Ripple effects
L.A. County sheriff's officials said anyone already sentenced and scheduled for release Monday would still be released from jail. Evictions or move out orders were suspended.
Monday will be considered a "court holiday," according to the closure order, which effectively extends all deadlines by a day.
Court officials said in a statement on Friday there's "no evidence of court user's data being compromised."
Josie Huang
is a reporter and Weekend Edition host who spotlights the people and places at the heart of our region.
Published April 5, 2026 12:24 PM
Jackie and Shadow's new chicks.
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Screenshot of footage captured by Friends of Big Bear Valley and Big Bear Eagle Next Cam
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Topline:
Jackie and Shadow have two new chicks this Easter Sunday.
Details: The first eaglet arrived last night around 9:30 p.m., the second around 8:30 a.m. this morning.
Read on and look at footage of the new chicks from the nonprofit, Friends of Big Bear Valley.
Congrats to Big Bear's celebrity bald eagle couple.
Jackie and Shadow have two new chicks this Easter Sunday. Thousands of fans have been watching their eggs hatch on the popular nest livestream that made the eagles famous.
The first eaglet arrived last night around 9:30 p.m., the second followed around 8:30 a.m.
The nonprofit that runs the livestream, Friends of Big Bear Valley, says dad Shadow showed up after the second hatch and saw his two chicks for the first time.
Mom Jackie is is showing a natural behavior that’s actually a good sign. The nonprofit says she's salivating more — which helps provide electrolytes and antibodies her chicks need.
The two eggs each showed signs of a pip — or first crack — on Friday and Saturday.
The Writers Guild of America has announced a tentative four-year contract agreement with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, which represents Hollywood studios, television networks and streaming services.
Why it matters: The new agreement spans four years, longer than the typical three-year deal. In a social media post, the WGA said the deal "protects writers’ health plan and puts it on a sustainable path, builds on gains from 2023, and helps address free work challenges."
In a statement posted on its website, AMPTP said, "We look forward to building on this progress as we continue working toward agreements that support long-term industry stability."
Why now: AMPTP and the WGA have been in negotiations since March. The announcement yesterday came a little under a month before the union's current contract was set to expire on May 1.
The backstory: In 2023, contract negotiations broke down between writers and producers, which led to a historic five-month writers strike. That strike ended with the WGA notching huge gains in compensation, streaming residuals and AI protections.
What's next: The tentative agreement still needs to be ratified by the full WGA membership. The union's negotiating committee said union members will receive detailed information in the coming days.
Topline:
The Writers Guild of America has announced a tentative four-year contract agreement with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, which represents Hollywood studios, television networks and streaming services.
Why it matters: The new agreement spans four years, as opposed to the typical three-year deal. In a social media post, the WGA said the deal "protects writers’ health plan and puts it on a sustainable path, builds on gains from 2023, and helps address free work challenges."
In a statement posted on its website, AMPTP said, "We look forward to building on this progress as we continue working toward agreements that support long-term industry stability."
Why now: AMPTP and the WGA have been in negotiations since March. The announcement yesterday came a little under a month before the union's current contract was set to expire on May 1.
The backstory: In 2023, contract negotiations broke down between writers and producers, which led to a historic five-month writers strike. That strike ended with the WGA notching huge gains in compensation, streaming residuals and AI protections.
What's next: The tentative agreement still needs to be ratified by the full WGA membership. The union's negotiating committee said union members will receive detailed information in the coming days.
Keep up with LAist.
If you're enjoying this article, you'll love our daily newsletter, The LA Report. Each weekday, catch up on the 5 most pressing stories to start your morning in 3 minutes or less.
A Southwest Airlines plane takes off from Burbank. Travelers are advised to arrive early.
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Mario Tama
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Getty Images
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Topline:
The Hollywood Burbank Airport is advising flyers to arrive at least two hours earlier than usual because of construction slated to begin Monday and last for 60 days.
What’s closed: One lane of traffic on the southbound side of Hollywood Way near Thornton Avenue will be closed during construction. The sidewalk and bike lane on the west side of Hollywood Way will also be closed.
What’s the alternative: Officials are advising passengers to use the Empire Avenue entrance, or enter the airport westbound on Thornton Avenue.
The Hollywood Burbank Airport is advising flyers to arrive at least two hours earlier than usual for the next 60 days because of construction slated to begin Monday.
Road closures: One lane of traffic on the southbound side of Hollywood Way next to Thornton Avenue will be closed during construction. The sidewalk and bike lane on the west side of Hollywood Way between Winona Avenue and Thornton Avenue will also be closed.
When: Construction will occur Mondays through Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. through June 6.
Why: Airport spokesperson Mike Christensen told LAist crews are building a retaining wall as part of Hollywood Burbank's passenger terminal construction project.
Alternatives: Officials recommend passengers use the Empire Avenue entrance or take Thornton Avenue to get to the airport.
Suzanne Levy
is a senior editor on the Explore LA team, where she oversees food, LA Explained and other feature stories.
Published April 5, 2026 5:00 AM
LAist senior editor Suzanne Levy details her encounter with the iconic Joshua tree
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Mario Tama
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Courtesy Suzanne Levy
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Topline:
LAist senior editor, Suzanne Levy, who grew up in the UK, tells the story of the first time she went to Joshua Tree and experienced the desert's strange, out of the world landscape.
On seeing a Joshua Tree: "What? Wait, stop the car. There’s an actual Joshua Tree? It looks like an alien to me!"
On seeing a desert sunset: "I marveled at the gorgeousness of the sunset, the morphing colors and the vastness of the sky."
While living in L.A., I’d been hearing about this thing — “the desert.” Seemed a bit odd to someone who lived on the Westside next to the ocean, but OK, you can also see mountains from my house, so why not throw in an entire landscape food group?
A few years ago, I figured it was time to try it out, and my family and I headed to Joshua Tree for the weekend.
We began driving east and were soon in that vast no man’s land around the 10 Freeway. On one side, I could see a moving train, with all those boxcars. I was watching, entranced, waiting to see it go past. And it kept going. And going. It was like a vibrant desert serpent, wending its way through the landscape, each boxcar a different hue. It seemed so romantic, and then I thought “in each one, there’s a whole load of hanging car air fresheners, dental floss and Japanese waving cats” and suddenly the spell was broken. Ah well.
The eerie, alien Joshua Tree.
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Sean Gallup/Getty Images,
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Getty Images North America
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As we got nearer, I said “Huh, what's that weird thing that looks like an alien?” and my husband said, “Yes, that’s a Joshua Tree.”
What? Wait, stop the car. There’s an actual Joshua Tree? First, who knew, and second, that is no tree. That, sir, is a weird misshapen cactus, with multiple crooked arms reaching into the air, each with its own spiky fur muff. Kinda like one of those waving inflatable guys if they were static. (Ah, I've been in L.A. too long).
Bougie smores
The vast desert sky.
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Steve Holtzman
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Courtesy Suzanne Levy
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We finally arrived at our destination, a campsite — OK, a glamping campsite, a whole bunch of airstream trailers laid out with firepits. I knew it was bougie when I went to buy a smores kit from the shop and came back with 70% dark chocolate, artisanal graham crackers and single origin marshmallows. (I made that marshmallow one up, but it really is just a matter of time).
We made a fire, marveling at the gorgeousness of the sunset, the morphing colors and the vastness of the sky. I sat afterwards watching the flames, the cold air on my skin, under a blanket of stars. Tears pricked my eyes.
About this story
LAist Senior Editor Suzanne Levy writes about her experiences as a Brit in the U.S. in her ongoing series: American As A Second language.
In the morning we headed to Joshua Tree National Park. When we got out of the car, the vista hit me, with that bright, bright sun, strange looking rocky outcrops, and nothing but Joshua trees as far as the eye could see. I thought: I have never seen anything like this. I couldn’t have even imagined something like this. In London, if you go on a day trip, you can go back in time, say to the thatched roofs of the Cotswolds — but not to a different planet.
What an extraordinary continent this is, I think. I am awestruck by its endless, varied landscapes — the plains, the Rockies, the oceans and the forests. And there’s something particular about the desert — its simplicity, its reduction to just three or four elements, which relaxes you, chills you out.
I remember heading back to L.A. after the weekend, happy and mellow, smiling as we drove west into the setting sun. It’s a cliche, but the desert does call you back. And I hope to get back there very soon.
