Legal Affairs
Julian Fischer is a legal affairs correspondent specializing in Swiss jurisprudence and public administration. He covers court decisions, legislative developments, and social policy impacts across various cantons.
20 published articles
Swiss prisons are facing significant overcrowding, with many facilities operating beyond capacity. Cantons like Vaud and Bern report high occupancy rates, prompting plans for new facilities and explor
A Bern surgeon declined to testify on Friday in a trial regarding alleged unproven disc implants. He faces charges of aggravated assault and patient neglect. The verdict is expected on February 9.
A Bern resident was fined 350 francs for missing mandatory vote-counting duty and then failed to appear for their own requested court hearing, leading to the automatic confirmation of the penalty. Thi
A 20-year-old man received a conditional fine and other penalties for an assault on Bern's Bahnhofplatz, involving a punch and a death threat. The victim suffered a concussion and was unable to work.
A prominent Bernese surgeon faces trial for allegedly implanting faulty spinal disc devices in seven patients, causing severe bodily harm. The 'Cadisc-L' implants reportedly failed, leading to physica
Bernese Cantonal Police broke up an illegal party of several hundred people in a vacant building, leading to a street procession, use of irritant spray, and minor vandalism.
A Bern woman was sentenced for over 40 fraudulent online orders worth 11,000 CHF using a former flatmate's identity, embezzlement, and concealing income from social services.
The Canton of Bern anticipates a transformative year in 2026, marked by significant cantonal elections, the likely election of Thun's first female City President, and the completion of major infrastru
Several cities in the canton of Bern have enacted fireworks bans for New Year's Eve, including Bern's Old Town, Thun, and Burgdorf, citing safety and environmental concerns. Animal welfare groups are
Bern police responded to a security incident at the Ibis Hotel in Bern-Wankdorf on Monday involving a single individual. Hotel staff reacted quickly, and no injuries were reported.
Anna Tumarkin, a pioneering philosopher in Bern, challenged traditional views on Swiss thought. Her 1948 book argued that the absence of grand philosophical systems defined the unique essence of Swiss
Stefan Trechsel, a highly respected Swiss jurist and former President of the European Commission of Human Rights, has died at 88 in Bern. He was also a judge at the International Criminal Tribunal for
A Bern dog sitter received a 2,700 franc fine for multiple animal welfare and dog law violations, including keeping eight dogs in a windowless van without water and walking too many dogs at once.
A fire in a Bern apartment building on Mühlemattstrasse on December 20, 2025, led to resident evacuation. No injuries occurred, but arson is suspected. Police are seeking witnesses.
The Canton of Bern has rejected a general mobile phone ban in its schools, opting for decentralized decision-making by individual institutions. This contrasts with Fribourg's recent approval of a simi
A Bernese surgeon faces trial in January for severe bodily harm, accused of implanting underdeveloped spinal discs that failed in seven patients. The Cadisc-L implants, used between 2011-2013, reporte
Amnesty International Switzerland demands an independent investigation into the Bern police operation during an October pro-Palestine demonstration, citing excessive force and 326 injuries. Police def
A multi-year bicycle theft ring operating in Bern Canton and Basel has been exposed, leading to a 139-page indictment against three men.
A proposal to use advanced software to identify violent protesters in Bern is facing unexpected political opposition following a turbulent demonstration in October.
An 85-year-old rest stop owner in Glarus, Heinz Peter Moravcik, accuses the Federal Roads Office (Astra) of delaying his property sale, alleging they await his death. Astra denies the claims, citing p
