diff --git a/web/themes/contrib/civictheme/assets/js/status-messages/status-messages.js b/web/themes/contrib/civictheme/assets/js/status-messages/status-messages.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..1fcd3f47d4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/web/themes/contrib/civictheme/assets/js/status-messages/status-messages.js
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+// CivicTheme status-messages.js
+(function ($, Drupal) {
+  Drupal.behaviors.ctFocusErrorSummary = {
+    attach: function (context, settings) {
+      // Wait for DOM update after AJAX or normal load
+      setTimeout(function () {
+        // Find any element with id starting with 'error-summary-'
+        var $error = $('[id^="error-summary-"]', context).first();
+        if ($error.length) {
+          $error.attr('tabindex', '-1'); // ensure focusable (in case)
+          $error.focus();
+        }
+      }, 30);
+    }
+  };
+})(jQuery, Drupal);
diff --git a/web/themes/contrib/civictheme/civictheme_starter_kit/assets/js/status-messages/status-messages.js b/web/themes/contrib/civictheme/civictheme_starter_kit/assets/js/status-messages/status-messages.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..1fcd3f47d4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/web/themes/contrib/civictheme/civictheme_starter_kit/assets/js/status-messages/status-messages.js
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+// CivicTheme status-messages.js
+(function ($, Drupal) {
+  Drupal.behaviors.ctFocusErrorSummary = {
+    attach: function (context, settings) {
+      // Wait for DOM update after AJAX or normal load
+      setTimeout(function () {
+        // Find any element with id starting with 'error-summary-'
+        var $error = $('[id^="error-summary-"]', context).first();
+        if ($error.length) {
+          $error.attr('tabindex', '-1'); // ensure focusable (in case)
+          $error.focus();
+        }
+      }, 30);
+    }
+  };
+})(jQuery, Drupal);
diff --git a/web/themes/contrib/civictheme/templates/misc/status-messages.html.twig b/web/themes/contrib/civictheme/templates/misc/status-messages.html.twig
index 47d2ea703f..861d9f1eca 100644
--- a/web/themes/contrib/civictheme/templates/misc/status-messages.html.twig
+++ b/web/themes/contrib/civictheme/templates/misc/status-messages.html.twig
@@ -6,11 +6,14 @@
 #}
 {% for type, messages in message_list %}
   {% for message in messages %}
+    {% set id_suffix = type == 'error' ? loop.parent.loop.index ~ '-' ~ loop.index : '' %}
+    {% set id_attr = type == 'error' ? 'id="error-summary-' ~ id_suffix ~ '" tabindex="-1"' : '' %}
     {% include 'civictheme:message' with {
       title: status_headings[type] ? status_headings[type] : type|capitalize,
       content: message|render,
       type: (type == 'status' or type == 'info') ? 'information' : type,
       vertical_spacing: 'both',
+      attributes: id_attr,
     } only %}
   {% endfor %}
 {% endfor %}