Cyberattack Disrupts US Bankruptcy Courts' Digital Notice Systems
A cyberattack on BAE-managed systems has halted digital filings and notices at US bankruptcy courts.
Why it matters: Litigation and bankruptcy lawyers face delays and procedural changes due to the breach. The incident exposes cybersecurity vulnerabilities in court infrastructure that affect case management nationwide.
- BAE Systems reported a cybersecurity incident on October 9, 2026, affecting the Bankruptcy Noticing Center (BNC).
- Multiple BNC websites, including bnc.uscourts.gov and notices.uscourts.gov, experienced disruptions.
- Production and distribution of bankruptcy notices nationwide were halted by the incident.
- The Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts is investigating and working with BAE Systems to restore operations.
On October 9, 2026, BAE Systems alerted the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts to a cybersecurity incident affecting the Bankruptcy Noticing Center (BNC), a centralized service responsible for producing and transmitting bankruptcy notices across federal courts in the US. This centralized clearinghouse, managed by BAE Systems on behalf of the judiciary, was disrupted, impacting critical electronic case management functions.
The breach caused outages across multiple key BNC platforms, including bnc.uscourts.gov, bankruptcynotices.uscourts.gov, notices.uscourts.gov, and the National Creditor Registration Service, halting the production and distribution of bankruptcy notices nationwide.
This disruption forced bankruptcy courts to rely on alternative procedures for filings and creditor notifications, creating delays and operational challenges for practitioners. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the cybersecurity risks facing the court system's digital infrastructure, which is critical for timely legal process.
The Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts is actively coordinating with BAE Systems to investigate the attack and restore full functionality. Details on the nature of the breach and the timeline for recovery have not been disclosed.
Practitioners should stay updated via official court communications as the situation develops to adjust to any procedural changes or delays.
By the numbers:
- October 9, 2026 — date when the cybersecurity incident was reported
- Multiple BNC websites — affected by the attack
- Nationwide — scale of bankruptcy notice distribution halt
What's next: The Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts continues its investigation with BAE Systems, with no set timeline for restoring full BNC services.