Federal Supreme Court of Switzerland

Supreme Court building in Lausanne

The Federal Supreme Court of Switzerland (German: Bundesgericht; French: Tribunal fédéral; Italian: Tribunale federale; Romansh: Tribunal federal) is the supreme court of Switzerland. It is located in Lausanne.

According to the Constitution of Switzerland, the court has jurisdiction over violations of:

• federal law;
• public international law;
• intercantonal law;
• cantonal constitutional rights;
• autonomy of municipalities, and other guarantees granted by the Cantons to public corporate bodies; and
• federal and cantonal provisions concerning political rights.

Because of an emphasis on direct democracy through referendum, the Constitution precludes the court from reviewing acts of the Federal Parliament, unless such review is specifically provided for by statute.

Current and former judges

Main article: List of judges of the Federal Supreme Court of Switzerland

• Lorenz Meyer, President 2009-2010
• Arthur Aeschlimann, President 2007-2008
• Giusep Nay (born 1942), President 2005-2006, 1988-2006.
• Bernard Corboz (born 1948), Vice-President 2005-2006, elected 1990.

References

• Federal Supreme Court in German, French and Italian in the online Historical Dictionary of Switzerland.

External links

• Official website (French) (German) (Italian)