WA court system outage means firearm sales on hold

Washington state courts are in turmoil as their computer systems remain offline for nearly two weeks, following the detection of unauthorized activity on November 4. This disruption has significantly affected local court operations and firearm sales, as the Washington State Patrol cannot access its databases to conduct necessary background checks, halting the processing of 400 to 1,000 checks daily. Court officials have reassured the public that there is no evidence of compromised data during the incident. In response, the state Supreme Court has issued an emergency order empowering local courts to adjust case filing timelines and delay arraignments for non-custodial defendants. The situation has led to frustration among buyers and dealers, with a gun rights group threatening legal action if the issue is not swiftly resolved.

Wendy Ferrell, an associate director for the state Administrative Office of the Courts, emphasized the complexity and time-consuming nature of securely restoring the systems, highlighting ongoing cybersecurity challenges and their implications for public service and rights.