Court Bans In-Office Judge Romance

Switzerland’s highest judicial body has ruled that romantic relationships between federal judges are incompatible with the court’s professional standards and judicial customs.

The decision was made during an extraordinary meeting of all members of the Federal Supreme Court of Switzerland on Wednesday following public attention surrounding a relationship between two federal judges.

The controversy emerged after reports revealed a relationship between federal judge Beatrice van de Graaf and federal judge Yves Donzallaz. The matter became public in April through reporting by the German-language publication Weltwoche.

According to a statement released by the Federal Court, judges are expected to avoid behaviour that could raise concerns about their independence, impartiality, or the reputation of the judiciary.

The court announced that an independent panel of experts will examine the specific case involving the two judges. An external specialist has been tasked with clarifying the facts and reporting findings to the Administrative Commission of the Federal Court.

Officials stated that the investigation results are expected by the end of June, after which the court will decide on any further action.

While the inquiry into the individual case remains ongoing, the court separately confirmed that romantic relationships between members of the court are fundamentally considered incompatible with current judicial conduct standards.

The development has sparked debate in Switzerland regarding judicial ethics, independence, and personal conduct within the country’s highest legal institutions.

Swiss Media Industry Adopts AI Code of Conduct.

The Switzerland media industry has officially adopted a new code of conduct for the responsible use of artificial intelligence in journalism and publishing.

The initiative aims to strengthen public trust in AI technologies while ensuring ethical standards remain central to modern media practices.

According to industry representatives, the framework is based on principles outlined in a Council of Europe convention and is designed to guide media companies in using AI responsibly and transparently.

Andrea Masüger, President of the German-language publishers’ association Schweizer Medien, emphasized the importance of public confidence in journalism.

“Trust is the media’s most precious asset,” Masüger stated while discussing the need for clear ethical standards around AI-generated content and automated technologies.

The new guidelines are expected to address issues such as transparency, accountability, editorial oversight, misinformation risks, and the protection of journalistic integrity.

Media organizations across Europe are increasingly introducing AI policies as artificial intelligence tools become more common in news production, content generation, translation, and audience engagement.

Swiss publishers hope the new code will encourage responsible innovation while maintaining high standards of accuracy, independence, and credibility in the digital media landscape.

The move reflects growing international concern about the impact of AI on journalism, democracy, and public trust in information.