Federal Supreme Court Thurgau High Court reprimanded for excluding the public

The Thurgau High Court has violated the principle of judicial publicity and the freedom of the media and information. This was decided by the Federal Supreme Court.

In 2022, the High Court excluded the public, including court reporters, from an appeal hearing and the subsequent oral opening of the judgment.

The Federal Supreme Court has upheld the appeal of a journalist from Tages-Anzeiger against the ruling of the President of the Thurgau High Court in all respects, according to a ruling published on Friday. The exclusion was disproportionate.

The proceedings before the High Court concerned multiple sexual acts with children, multiple sexual assault and pornography. The representative of the private plaintiffs had requested the exclusion. The proceedings at first instance had already taken place behind closed doors. (Judgement 7B_61/2022 of 25.6.2024)