Latest Judgments of the Federal Court
Here you will find the most recent judgments of the Federal Court (BGer) from bger.ch. For the first three judgments, we present detailed summaries including facts, considerations, and dispositions. For the other judgments, you will find a summary of the facts. The full summaries of all judgments are available on the portal of Lexplorer. There you can configure your newsletter and receive the latest judgments tailored to your areas of law.
2C_542/2025: Decision on the Question of Compliance with the Deadline in a Complaint regarding Residence Permit
Summary of Facts
A.________ filed a complaint against the decision of the Cantonal Court of Vaud dated July 30, 2025, which denied a residence permit and rejected a request for revision. The Federal Court examined the complaint, which was submitted on September 19, 2025, for its admissibility. The compliance with the deadline was problematic.
Summary of Considerations
- **E.1:** The Federal Court found that the complaint period according to Art. 100 para. 1 BGG (Federal Court Act) began with the delivery of the decision. The date of the first failed delivery was July 31, 2025, so the start of the deadline fell on August 7, 2025. Taking into account the court holidays from July 15 to August 15, the complaint period was extended until September 15, 2025. - **E.2:** According to Art. 44 para. 2 BGG, an extension of the delivery period could not be claimed, as registered mail is considered delivered within the statutory period, regardless of a later actual pick-up. The complaint was received on September 19, 2025, and was therefore clearly late. - **E.3:** Due to the obvious failure to meet the deadline, the Federal Court declared the complaint inadmissible. The request for the provision of free legal assistance was also rejected, as the complaint had no prospect of success.
Summary of Disposition
The complaint is declared inadmissible, the request for free legal assistance is denied, and costs of CHF 200 are imposed.
1C_426/2025: Inadmissibility of a Complaint
Summary of Facts
The complainant A.________ filed a complaint against the appeal decision of the Department of Security of the Canton of Zurich, which concerned fees, to the Administrative Court of the Canton of Zurich. This set a deadline for the payment of a process cost advance, which he did not meet. The Administrative Court then did not consider the complaint. Against this decision, A.________ appealed to the Federal Court.
Summary of Considerations
- **E.1:** The Federal Court explains that legal documents must meet certain substantive requirements according to Art. 42 para. 1 and para. 2 BGG, particularly addressing the considerations of the contested decision. These requirements were not met by the complainant.
- **E.2:** In the simplified procedure according to Art. 108 para. 1 BGG, therefore, the complaint is not considered.
- **E.3:** The complainant is liable for costs, and no party compensation is granted.
Summary of Disposition
The complaint was not considered, and the court costs were imposed on the complainant.
2C_447/2025: Inadmissibility of the Complaint
Summary of Facts
A.________ had not provided proof of the required cost advance payment for a previous procedure within the deadline, which led to the rejection of the original complaint. Attempts by A.________ to contest the previous judgment through a revision procedure were rejected by the Administrative Court as well as the Court of Justice.
Summary of Considerations
- **E.1:** The Federal Court examines jurisdiction and admissibility according to LTF. - **E.4.1:** Requirements for the complaint according to Art. 42 and 106 LTF. The complaint must specifically state how the contested decision violated rights. - **E.4.2:** The evidence presented by A.________ in the revision procedure was already available earlier and could have been submitted on time. There is no valid reason for not presenting it. - **E.4.3:** The complaint by A.________ does not provide sufficient reasoning as to why the contested decision should be unlawful. - **E.5:** The complaint is obviously inadmissible and is decided simplistically.
Summary of Disposition
The complaint was declared inadmissible, and A.________ must pay court costs.
2C_468/2025: Decision on the Complaint concerning Detention for Securing the Enforcement of a Deportation
Summary of Facts
A.________ filed a complaint on August 25, 2025, against the judgment of the Cantonal Court of Valais dated August 4, 2025, which confirmed his administrative detention to secure the enforcement of the deportation. He claims that he cannot return to Guinea-Bissau due to political persecution and wishes to regularize his residence situation. The Cantonal Court had previously confirmed that the detention was lawful and that the enforcement of the deportation did not appear impossible for legal or factual reasons.
You can find the complete summary of the judgment in the Portal.
7B_1352/2024: Decision on the Unsealing of Secured Documents and Data
Summary of Facts
The Federal Tax Administration (ESTV) conducted a tax investigation regarding tax evasion, incitement, and complicity over several tax periods. During the house searches, numerous documents and electronic data from A.A.________ and B.________ AG were seized and sealed. The ESTV filed a request for unsealing, which was partially denied. Both the ESTV and A.A.________ and B.________ AG filed complaints against the decision of the Federal Criminal Court.
You can find the complete summary of the judgment in the Portal.
1C_469/2024: Judgment regarding Expropriation Compensation
Summary of Facts
The political municipality of St. Gallen challenged the amount of expropriation compensation confirmed by the Administrative Court of the Canton of St. Gallen for a 109 m² edge area of a property owned by A.________ AG. The Federal Court overturned the judgment of the Administrative Court because the so-called front garden deduction was not correctly taken into account. It stated that full compensation (Art. 26 para. 2 BV) should not lead to the expropriated being enriched, and referred the matter back to the lower court for re-evaluation.
You can find the complete summary of the judgment in the Portal.
1C_562/2025: Judgment on Jurisdiction for Complaints against Federal Referendums
Summary of Facts
Stephan Seiler filed a complaint against the conduct of the federal referendum on September 28, 2025, concerning the Federal Act on Electronic Identity and Other Electronic Proofs (E-ID Act, BGEID). He requested the annulment of the vote or its repetition.
You can find the complete summary of the judgment in the Portal.
2C_337/2025: Decision regarding Animal Husbandry and Animal Welfare Standards
Summary of Facts
The complainants A.________ and B.________ were ordered by the Veterinary Office of the Canton of Vaud to improve the conditions for the husbandry of their cattle, which was decided in November 2024. Both separately filed complaints with the Cantonal Administrative Court of Vaud, which dismissed the complaints and confirmed the original order. A.________ then approached the Federal Court on June 17, 2025, questioning in particular the provision of a BDTA number system and his role in animal husbandry.
You can find the complete summary of the judgment in the Portal.
7B_973/2024: Unsealing Edited Bank Documents
Summary of Facts
The Federal Tax Administration conducted a special tax investigation due to suspected serious tax offenses against A.A.________, B.________ Inc, and other companies and requested the unsealing of bank documents issued by financial institutions. The affected individuals and companies filed objections and demanded the release and destruction of the data or the redaction of certain contents. The complaint chamber of the Federal Criminal Court partially granted the unsealing request. The bank documents were partially released and partially sealed and returned. The complainants appealed this decision to the Federal Court.
You can find the complete summary of the judgment in the Portal.
2C_352/2024: Decision on International Legal Assistance in Tax Matters Concerning Israeli Account Holders
Summary of Facts
The ITA (Israel Tax Authority) requested international legal assistance from the Federal Tax Administration (ESTV) according to the Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters (MAC). Among others, A.________ is affected, who did not declare as the beneficial owner Israeli bank accounts with Bank B.________ in Switzerland for the tax period 2014-2018. The ESTV granted legal assistance. The Federal Administrative Court rejected A.________'s complaint against this decision and did not consider further complaints.
You can find the complete summary of the judgment in the Portal.
2C_311/2025: Decision regarding Animal Husbandry and Deadline Regulation
Summary of Facts
A.________ and B.________ jointly filed a complaint against a decision of the veterinarian of the Canton of Vaud with the Cantonal Tribunal, which dismissed the complaint and confirmed the original order (including the setting of a new deadline schedule). A.________ then appealed to the Federal Court and requested an extension of the deadline for submitting a complete complaint statement, citing health difficulties. The Federal Court examined the admissibility of the legal remedy and the compliance with the deadlines.
You can find the complete summary of the judgment in the Portal.
2C_500/2025: Decision regarding Residence Permit with Employment
Summary of Facts
The Thai citizen A.________, born in 1999, held a residence permit for study purposes, which expired on October 11, 2024. On September 24, 2024, she applied for a residence permit for employment, which was rejected on January 30, 2025, by the competent cantonal authority, the Direction générale de l'emploi et du marché du travail of the Canton of Vaud. The appeal decision of the lower court, the Administrative Court of the Canton of Vaud, rejected her legal remedy on July 8, 2025.
You can find the complete summary of the judgment in the Portal.
7B_949/2024: Judgment on the Unsealing of Bank Documents
Summary of Facts
The Federal Tax Administration (ESTV) initiated a special tax investigation due to suspicions of tax evasion and related criminal offenses against several individuals and two companies and requested the unsealing of bank documents issued by financial institutions. The affected individuals and companies filed objections and demanded the release and destruction of the data or the redaction of certain contents. The complaint chamber of the Federal Criminal Court partially decided in favor of the ESTV and partially in favor of the objectors. Both the ESTV and the affected individuals and companies appealed this decision.
You can find the complete summary of the judgment in the Portal.
2C_406/2025: Decision on the Formal Inadmissibility of a Complaint
Summary of Facts
The complainant A.________ approached the Federal Court directly on July 21, 2025, claiming that he was in administrative detention and that a judge had decided that he must leave Switzerland to return to his country of origin, Burundi. He stated that there was a risk of torture upon his return and requested assistance from Switzerland. The Federal Court ordered by decision of July 25, 2025, that A.________ submit the contested decision by August 11, 2025. A.________ did not comply with this request.
You can find the complete summary of the judgment in the Portal.
2C_536/2025: Decision on the Withdrawal of the Operating Permit
Summary of Facts
A.________ is the operator of the B.________ nightclub in Martigny. The municipality of Martigny revoked his operating permit on June 25, 2024, and ordered the immediate closure of the nightclub. This decision was confirmed by the Council of State of the Canton of Valais on November 27, 2024. The Administrative Court of the Canton of Valais dismissed A.________'s complaint against the decision of the Council of State on July 24, 2025, to the extent that it was admissible. A.________ filed a complaint in public law matters with the Federal Court on September 16, 2025, but this was not submitted in time.
You can find the complete summary of the judgment in the Portal.
2C_333/2025: Decision on the Issuance of a Firearm Acquisition Permit
Summary of Facts
A.________, a young Swiss citizen, applied for a firearm acquisition permit to engage in sport shooting. The cantonal police authority of Vaud required a personal hearing and potentially an inspection of her residence as part of the evaluation of her reliability. A.________ rejected these measures, considering them disproportionate and unlawful. Due to her lack of cooperation, the police withdrew her request. Furthermore, the cantonal authority refused to issue the requested firearm acquisition permit under the given circumstances and without sufficient evidence. The cantonal decision was confirmed by the Cantonal Court of Vaud, after which A.________ appealed to the Federal Court.
You can find the complete summary of the judgment in the Portal.
1C_533/2024: Decision on the Development Plan "Unterstrick" and Building Permit in Gersau
Summary of Facts
The complainants applied for a building permit for a residential house on their property in Gersau according to the development plan "Unterstrick". The District Council of Gersau approved the construction project despite an objection from a neighbor. The Government Council of Schwyz revoked the building permit on the grounds that the construction project was not in compliance with the regulations of the development plan. The Administrative Court of Schwyz confirmed this decision, after which the complainants filed a complaint with the Federal Court.
You can find the complete summary of the judgment in the Portal.