Assignment judge: courts resolved 53,000 cases last year; cyberattack prompted countywide response team
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Summary
Assignment Judge Rudy Filko told Passaic County officials that trial courts resolved about 53,000 cases in the 2024–25 court year, municipal court activity rose, a cyberattack temporarily shut county systems and the county formed a 70-plus-member cyber response team; he also highlighted courtroom upgrades and security drills.
Assignment Judge Rudy Filko addressed residents and county leaders at the Jan. 7 Passaic County reorganization meeting, outlining recent court activity, security incidents and facility upgrades. Filko said that across Passaic County trial courts (criminal, family and civil) about 53,000 cases were resolved during the court year from July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025, and that municipal court caseloads increased from the prior year — the transcript cites municipal court activity rising to about 468,000 cases.
Filko described operational challenges the courts faced, including judicial vacancies and a cyberattack that affected county and court systems. The cyber incident required the county to shut portions of its systems for about two weeks; Filko said county IT and administration formed a rapid-response "war room," and the county spearheaded creation of a Passaic County cyber security response team that now includes more than 70 members from municipal police, county IT, prosecutor's office and municipal staff. "We were, unfortunately, shut down... for a two week period," Filko said, describing disruption to electronic communications and the steps taken to restore operations.
Filko also described training and an active-shooter drill conducted with the sheriff's department, state police and local police, and thanked county staff for helping deliver recent courtroom renovations. He noted two newly completed state-of-the-art courtrooms in the 77 Hamilton building and described an ongoing project to renovate an older courtroom to make it fully accessible, including ramps and electronic doors.
Filko said the court system has made progress on judgeship vacancies (four new judges appointed in the past year, while three judges retired) and is seeking confirmation for two additional nominees. He emphasized partnership with the county on facilities and security, and said he looks forward to continued coordination as the courts and county implement planned improvements.
