Cyber Incident Victim: Lousiana 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals
Date:
Jul 2018
Location:
United States of America
Summary
A judicial candidate and former law clerk at the Louisiana 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals allegedly copied confidential court documents to a USB drive and transmitted them via personal email to a friend involved in a pending appeal case before the court. The compromised materials included sensitive rulings under consideration by judges, relating to a substantial financial judgment against the beneficiary. The breach was identified through an investigation involving digital forensics, email provider warrants, and interviews, leading to felony charges against the clerk for offenses against intellectual property and unauthorized computer access. The individual was arrested and released on bond while actively campaigning for a judicial position.
| CIA Posture | Motives | Tactics, Techniques & Procedures |
|---|---|---|
| Available to members | 1 motive | 1 technique |
| Threat Actor | Type | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 1 actor | Available to members | Available to members |
Description
In July 2018, Trina Chu, then a law clerk for retired Chief Judge Henry Brown at the Louisiana 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals, allegedly copied confidential court documents onto a USB flash drive from state computers. The documents pertained to an ongoing appeal involving Hanh Williams, Chu’s friend, who was contesting a district court ruling against her. Three judges were reviewing Williams' appeal at the time. The case centered on a judgment against Williams for breaching her duty to a trust, resulting in a jury verdict requiring her to pay $1.1 million in damages and $460,605 to an estate. The documents Chu accessed included a confidential 2nd Circuit opinion related to this case, which was ultimately issued on August 15, 2018. Chu allegedly transferred three sensitive files from the USB drive to her personal email account and forwarded them directly to Williams while the court was deliberating the appeal. The breach involved materials concerning a judgment impacting Louisiana State University's veterinary school, identified as the trust's chief beneficiary.
The Caddo Parish Sheriff's Office, led by Sheriff Steve Prator, uncovered the incident through an investigation involving email provider search warrants, digital forensic examinations, and interviews. This led to Chu’s arrest on August 4, 2020, on two felony charges: offense against intellectual property and trespass against state computers. She was released the same day after posting $20,000 in bonds ($10,000 per charge). At the time of her arrest, Chu was campaigning as a judicial candidate challenging incumbent 2nd Circuit Court of Appeal Judge Jeanette Garrett in the November 3, 2020 election. Her campaign website promoted her commitment to fairness and justice, alongside a pledge to donate 75% of her judicial salary to Louisiana nonprofits if elected. The unauthorized disclosure compromised confidential deliberations in an active appellate case, though the investigation did not specify whether the leaked documents influenced the court’s final ruling against Williams.