Selected Judgments
Certain judgments and decisions of the Austrian Constitutional Court are translated into English, some also in French, and can be downloaded here. A broader selection of judgments is available in German only. You can read and download them from the German section Ausgewählte Entscheidungen.
:2024
- VfGH 13.06.2024, E 1338/2024: No violation of constitutional rights by the rejection of an application for a change of surname due to the lack of ‘common usage’ of the desired name (Summary/Bulletin on Constitutional Case Law 2024-2) (PDF, 0.6 MB)
- VfGH 12.12.2024, G 229/2023: Rejection of key arguments in applications concerning the ban on assisted suicide and the Death Decree Act (Summary/Bulletin on Constitutional Case Law 2024-3) (PDF, 0.2 MB)
- VfGH 07.03.2024, E 2908/2023: Reporting on a terrorist attack not only verbally, but also by depicting victims in an unidentifiable manner, is within the journalistic freedom of audiovisual media (Summary/Bulletin on Constitutional Case Law 2024-1) (PDF, 0.6 MB)
2023
- VfGH 28.06.2023, G 299/2022: Rejection of an application by several defendants in the BUWOG trial regarding conflict of interest and limitation periods (Summary/Bulletin on Constitutional Case Law 2023-2) (PDF, 0.2 MB)
- VfGH 15.03.2023, G 297/2022: Media Act – unconstitutional restriction on right of reply (Summary/Bulletin on Constitutional Case Law 2023-1) (PDF, 0.2 MB)
- VfGH 15.03.2023, G 297/2022: Provision regarding replies in the Media Act is unconstitutional (PDF, 0.8 MB)
- VfGH 14.12.2023, G 352/2021: Securing data-storage devices in criminal proceedings without a court order is unconstitutional (Summary/Bulletin on Constitutional Case Law 2023-3) (PDF, 0.2 MB)
- VfGH 14.12.2023, G 352/2021: Code of Criminal Procedure: Unconstitutional paragraphs in Section 110 and 111 (PDF, 0.8 MB)
- VfGH 14.12.2023, G 352/2021: Code de procédure pénale: Des aliénas contraires à la Constitution dans paragraphe 110 et 111 (PDF, 0.9 MB)
- VfGH 05.10.2023, G 215/2022: Provisions of the ORF Act (ORF-Gesetz) regarding the Foundation Council and the Audience Council are in part unconstitutional (Summary/Bulletin on Constitutional Case Law 2023-3) (PDF, 0.2 MB)
- VfGH 05.10.2023, G 215/2022: Provisions of the ORF Act (ORF-Gesetz) regarding the Foundation Council and the Audience Council are in part unconstitutional (PDF, 0.9 MB)
- VfGH 05.10.2023, G 215/2022: Les dispositions de la loi fédérale relative à la radiodiffusion autrichienne (ORF-Gesetz) en question du Conseil de fondation et du Conseil du public sont en part inconstitutionnelles (PDF, 0.9 MB)
2022
- VfGH 29.09.2022, SV 1/2021: Two provisions in the Host Agreement between Austria and OPEC are unconstitutional (PDF, 0.8 MB)
- VfGH 29.09.2022, SV 1/2021: Deux dispositions de l’Accord de siège entre la République d’Autriche et l’OPEP sont contraires à la Constitution (en français) (PDF, 0.8 MB)
- VfGH 29.09.2022, SV 1/2021: Two provisions in the Host Agreement between Austria and OPEC are unconstitutional (Summary/Bulletin on Constitutional Case Law 2022-4) (PDF, 0.2 MB)
- VfGH 23.06.2022, G 37/2022: Petition against the Mandatory COVID-19 Vaccination Law dismissed (Summary/Bulletin on Constitutional Case Law 2022-3) (PDF, 0.2 MB)
- VfGH 23.06.2022, G 37/2022: Application referring to the Mandatory COVID-19 Vaccination Act is Dismissed (PDF, 0.8 MB)
- VfGH 18.06.2022, G 30/2022: Adoption of a child for same-sex registered partners of foreign origin (Summary/Bulletin on Constitutional Case Law 2022-2) (PDF, 0.1 MB)
- VfGH 08.03.2022, E 3120/2021: Intention to use a prohibited symbol is not alone sufficient to prohibit an assembly (Summary/Bulletin on Constitutional Case Law 2022-1) (PDF, 0.2 MB)
2021
- VfGH 22.06.2021, E 2546/2020: Decision of the Court Regarding International Protection for an EU Citizen in Austria (PDF, 0.7 MB)
- VfGH 22.06.2021, E 2546/2020: Recours d´un citoyen lituanien en question d´une demande de protection internationale est rejeté (en français) (PDF, 0.7 MB)
- VfGH 07.12.2021, E 3149/2021: Ban on adopting surnames of Alevi ancestors due to the fact that the family name is not in use in Austria, is unconstitutional (Summary/Bulletin on Constitutional Case Law 2021-3) (PDF, 0.2 MB)
- VfGH 06.12.2021, G 247/2021: The Civil Code does not prevent unmarried couples from adopting a child either simultaneously or successively (Summary/Bulletin on Constitutional Case Law 2021-3) (PDF, 0.2 MB)
- VfGH 04.03.2021, E 4037/2020: Rejection of a specific request for information violates the journalist’s right of access to information (Article 10.1 ECHR) (Summary/Bulletin on Constitutional Case Law 2021-1) (PDF, 0.2 MB)
2020
- VfGH 14.07.2020, G 202/2020: Indemnisation (en français) (PDF, 0.9 MB)
- VfGH 14.07.2020, V 363/2020: Liberté de circulation (en français) (PDF, 0.8 MB)
- VfGH 14.07.2020, V 363/2020: No legal basis for general ban on entering public places (Summary/Bulletin on Constitutional Case Law 2020-2) (PDF, 0.2 MB)
- VfGH 14.07.2020, G 202/2020 ua.: COVID-19 Measures Act: Elimination of compensation for loss of earnings is constitutional (Summary/Bulletin on Constitutional Case Law 2020-2) (PDF, 0.2 MB)
- VfGH 14.07.2020, V 363/2020: No legal basis for general ban on entering public places (PDF, 0.7 MB)
- VfGH 14.07.2020, G 202/2020 ua.: COVID-19 Measures Act: Elimination of compensation for loss of earnings is constitutional (PDF, 0.8 MB)
- VfGH 11.12.2020, G 4/2020: To ban the veiling of the head in elementary schools violates the principle of equality in connection with the right to religious freedom (PDF, 0.8 MB)
- VfGH 11.12.2020, G 139/2019: Prohibition of any form of assisted suicide is unconstitutional (right to self-determination) (PDF, 0.8 MB)
- VfGH 11.12.2020, G 4/2020-2: : L’interdiction du voilage de la tête dans les écoles élémentaires viole le principe de l’égalité pris en combinaison avec le droit à la liberté religieuse (en français) (PDF, 0.8 MB)
- VfGH 11.12.2020, G 139/2019: Prohibition of any form of assisted suicide is unconstitutional (right to self-determination) (Summary/Bulletin on Constitutional Case Law 2020-3) (PDF, 0.2 MB)
- VfGH 11.12.2020, G 4/2020: To ban the veiling of the head in elementary schools violates the principle of equality in connection with the right to religious freedom (Summary/Bulletin on Constitutional Case Law 2020-3) (PDF, 0.2 MB)
- VfGH 10.03.2020, G 228-233/2019: Abolition of the public holiday on Good Friday does not directly affect the churches in their legal sphere (Summary/Bulletin on Constitutional Case Law 2020-1) (PDF, 0.2 MB)
- VfGH , G 139/2019: L’interdiction, sans aucune exception, du suicide assisté enfreint le droit à l’autodétermination (en français) (PDF, 0.9 MB)
2019
- VfGH 18.06.2019, E 5004/2018: Transparent with the inscription "ACAB" ("All Cops are Bastards") covered by freedom of expression in the specific case (Summary/Bulletin on Constitutional Case Law 2019-2) (PDF, 0.2 MB)
- VfGH 13.03.2019, E 3830/2018: Islam Act 2015 objectively justified as it safeguards the independent administration and secures their autonomy (Summary/Bulletin on Constitutional Case Law 2019-1) (PDF, 0.2 MB)
- VfGH 11.12.2019, G 72‐74/2019, G 181‐182/2019: Automatic number plate recognition as well as covert surveillance of encrypted messages are unconstitutional (Summary/Bulletin on Constitutional Case Law 2019-3) (PDF, 0.2 MB)
2018
- VfGH 15.06.2018, G 77/2018: Constitutional interpretation: Intersexual people have the right to an adequate gender entry optionn into the register of births (Summary/Bulletin on Constitutional Case Law 2018-2) (PDF, 0.2 MB)
- VfGH 14.03.2018, E 507/2017: Criminal and administrative authorities may prosecute offences based on one and the same conduct if the offences at issue differ in nature and aim (no violation of ne bis in idem) (Summary/Bulletin on Constitutional Case Law 2018-1) (PDF, 0.2 MB)
- VfGH 07.03.2018, G 136/2017: Rigid ceiling and waiting period in the Social Assistance Act of Lower Austria violated the principle of objectivity resulting from the constitutional principle of equality (Summary/Bulletin on Constitutional Case Law 2018-1) (PDF, 0.1 MB)
- VfGH 03.10.2018, G 189/2018: Suspension of pension benefits under the Federal Act on Assistance for the Victims of a Crime (Verbrechensopfergesetz) in certain cases not unjustified (Summary/Bulletin on Constitutional Case Law 2018-3) (PDF, 0.2 MB)
2017
- VfGH 30.06.2017, G 53/2017: Expropriation of Hitler’s Birthplace by Law is not Unconstitutional (Summary/Bulletin on Constitutional Case-Law 2017/1) (PDF, 0.2 MB)
- VfGH 13.03.2017, G 405/2016: Regulations referring to reimbursements of costs in criminal procedure are constitutional (Summary/Bulletin on Constitutional Case-Law 2017/1) (PDF, 0.2 MB)
- VfGH 04.12.2017, G 258/2017: Distinction between marriage and registered partnership violates ban on discrimination (Summary/Bulletin on Constitutional Case-Law 2017/3) (PDF, 0.1 MB)
2016
- VfGH 15.10.2016, G 7/2016: Legal obligation to allow hunting (except on enclosed properties) does not impose a disproportionate burden on landowners (Summary/Bulletin on Constitutional Case-Law 2016/3) (PDF, 0.1 MB)
- VfGH 13.12.2016, G 494/2015: Right of the (alleged) biological father to establish a relationship with a child (Summary/Bulletin on Constitutional Case-Law 2016/3) (PDF, 0.2 MB)
- VfGH 08.03.2016, 1477/2015: Assisted suicide (Summary/Bulletin on Constitutional Case-Law 2016/1) (PDF, 0.2 MB)
- VfGH 01.07.2016, W I 6/2016: Run Off Election of the Federal President must be repeated (English) (PDF, 1.1 MB)
- VfGH 01.07.2016, W I 6/2016: Run Off Election of the Federal President must be repeated (Summary/Bulletin on Constitutional Case-Law 2016/1) (PDF, 0.2 MB)
2015
- VfGH 08.10.2015, G 264/2015: Article 28.2 of the Data Protection Act contrary to Article 10 ECHR and, therefore, unconstitutional (Summary/Bulletin on Constitutional Case-Law 2015/3) (PDF, 0.3 MB)
- VfGH 03.07.2015, G 239/2014: Hypo Reorganization Act Unconstitutional (Summary/Bulletin on Constitutional Case-Law 2015/1) (PDF, 0.2 MB)
2014
- VfGH 27.06.2014, G 47/2012 ua.: Austrian Laws on Data Retention Found Unconstitutional (Summary/Bulletin on Constitutional Case-Law 2014/2) (PDF, 0.1 MB)
- VfGH 22.07.2014, G 47/2012 ua.: Austrian Laws on Data Retention Found Unconstitutional (English) (0.6 MB) (PDF, 0.6 MB)
- VfGH 12.03.2014, B 166/2013: Rejection of a same-sex-couple-request to renew their (Dutch) marriage in Austria (Summary/Bulletin on Constitutional Case-Law 2014/2) (PDF, 0.1 MB)
- VfGH 11.12.2014, G 119-120/2014: Adoption ban for same-sex partners found unconstitutional (English) (PDF, 0.3 MB)
- VfGH 11.12.2014, G 119-120/2014: Adoption ban for same-sex partners found unconstitutional (Summary/Bulletin on Constitutional Case-Law 2015/1) (PDF, 0.2 MB)
- VfGH 08.10.2014, G 97/2013: Vienna Act on Dead Bodies and Burials constitutional (Summary/Bulletin on Constitutional Case-Law 2014/3) (PDF, 0.2 MB)
- VfGH 06.03.2014, B 1035/2013: Austrian Broadcasting Corporation allowed to use 'forums' on Facebook (Summary/Bulletin on Constitutional Case-Law 2014/1) (PDF, 0.1 MB)
2013
- VfGH 16.03.2013, SV 2/12: ESM Treaty not unconstitutional (English) (PDF, 0.4 MB)
- VfGH 03.10.2013, SV 1/2013: European Fiscal Compact not held to be unconstitutional (English) (PDF, 0.5 MB)