Fiber-Optic Cable Cut Causes Major Internet Outage for Mobile County Courts
Mobile County, Alabama courts are grappling with significant internet disruptions after an AT&T fiber-optic cable was cut in downtown Mobile, causing delays and forcing rescheduling of key court proceedings.
On Monday, those with hearings before District Judge Zackery Moore encountered “technical issues” signs on courtroom doors, with several dockets postponed until Wednesday. While bond hearings continued in person at Mobile County Metro Jail, the core problem remains a crippled connection to the state’s online court records system, Alacourt.
Sluggish Internet Hampers Court Operations, Jury Selection Continues
Presiding Circuit Judge Wesley Pipes explained to FOX10 News that the incident traces back to a fiber-optic cable cut on Friday, severing the secure line connecting Mobile Government Plaza to the Administrative Office of Courts in Montgomery.
“For obvious reasons, the court system’s connection to Alacourt has to be more secure than for the general public,” Pipes said, emphasizing the critical nature of this link to judicial workflows.
Though internet service returned Monday, it remains unreliable and much slower than usual. Despite these hurdles, the courthouse stayed open and moved forward with jury selection for several trials, using a makeshift setup described by Judge Pipes as “duct tape and wire” to run jury panels.
Officials Warn Delays Could Grow If Issue Persists
Judge Pipes warned that if the outage isn’t resolved soon, it could severely complicate trial proceedings, making everything “much slower” and “tough.” These delays risk impacting timely justice in Mobile County and backlog may ripple outward.
AT&T spokesman Avery Cooper told FOX10 News the company is investigating the outage but could not provide details on the scope or when full service will be restored.
Meanwhile, Mobile County Commission spokeswoman Sharee Broussard confirmed that other city and county offices across Government Plaza are functioning normally despite the connectivity issues at the courthouse.
Why Mobile County’s Internet Outage Matters Nationwide
The Mobile County disruption underscores the fragility of fiber-optic infrastructure critical not only to government services but to public safety and justice systems nationwide. In Alaska and across the U.S., similar fiber outages can halt court functions, delay case resolutions, and frustrate communities awaiting legal outcomes.
As courts increasingly depend on digital platforms like Alacourt, secure and resilient internet connectivity becomes essential. Alaska’s remote regions face distinct challenges, making infrastructure protection an ongoing priority.
What’s Next?
Court officials remain hopeful AT&T will restore full internet service quickly to avoid escalating delays. Mobile County residents with court business are urged to “still come to court” as proceedings continue in limited capacity.
The disruption unfolds as a reminder of how vital telecommunications are to justice systems functioning in real time—any break in service threatens fundamental public processes.
